In addition to killing veteran talent agent Dave Shapiro, the San Diego plane crash on May 22 is believed to have claimed the life of Daniel Williams. A longtime friend of the Sound Talent Agency co-founder, the 39-year-old artist’s musical career traces its past to the metal-core band The Devil Wears Prada.
Early Thursday morning, private jet Cessna 550 carrying six passengers struck a power line, presumably due to foggy weather hindering visibility. It eventually crashed into Murphy Canyon, a neighbourhood dotted by Navy-owned housing, and went up in flames. Although official confirmations about the deceased have yet to be revealed, Williams was reportedly on board the plane alongside his dear friend, Dave Shapiro.
Despite the lack of official word on the San Diego tragedy, his family is positive that he was aboard the jet. His father, Larry Williams, has since told TMZ that the ex-drummer was among the victims.
Hours before the unexpected happened, Daniel shared a snap of himself in the co-pilot’s seat. His dad confessed that he was only having fun because he did not have a pilot’s license, unlike Shapiro, who according to FAA records, was a registered pilot. “Hey. Hey… you… look at me…. I’m the (co)pilot now,” Williams wrote on one of his Instagram Story updates about boarding the flight with the the Velocity Records owner.
Who was Daniel Williams?
According to his Instagram profile (@xcadaverx), the former Devil Wears Prada drummer had switched his professional path towards the end of his life, serving as a senior software architect at GoPro for nearly 8 years.
Just over a week ago, the rocker-turned-techie announced that he was switching companies and moving to Apple to further his career as a software engineer. “I’m very excited to share that I’ve accepted a software engineering role at Apple. It’s been really tough to say goodbye to my friends and colleagues of nearly 8 years at GoPro, but it’s time for my next chapter. It’s time to help build the future,” he tweeted on May 14 (IST).
I’m very excited to share that I’ve accepted a software engineering role at Apple. It’s been really tough to say goodbye to my friends and colleagues of nearly 8 years at GoPro, but it’s time for my next chapter. It’s time to help build the future. 🫶
— Daniel Williams (@xcadaverx) May 14, 2025
As per the Williams family statement, Daniel had been with the Ohio Christian metal-core band for years. He played a consequential role in the group’s success during that time, as the group charted two Top 10 titles on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart: “Zombie” EP (2010) and “Dead Throne” (2011), according to Billboard. The Devil Wears Prada formed in two decades ago in 2005. Williams spent over a decade with the band before quitting in 2016. Additionally, during Daniel’s tenure, Christian metal band held out two No. 1s on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart with 2009’s “With Roots Above and Branches Below” and 2010’s “Zombie” EP.
Daniel Williams was a mass shooting survivor
Years before reportedly succumbing to the San Diego crash, Daniel Williams is said to have survived a mass shooting incident in Dayton, Ohio. Back in 2019, nine people were pronounced dead and 27 others wounded after a gunman started firing near the Ned Peppers bar.
The ex-rocker revealed his brush with the near-fatal experience. “There was an active shooter in the bar i was in tonight. I am told that he had an AR15. @HannahRayNinja and I are ok. I am so incredibly heartbroken for those affected by this. I have never been so scared in my life,” he shared on SNS.
Calling attention to the need for gun control he added in an X post at the time: “I was in Ned Peppers. I’m still not sure exactly what happened. People were piling on top of each other to get out. It’s all a blur. F***ing awful… ‘thoughts and prayers don’t do s***. Gun control is needed. 251 mass shootings in 2019 is f***ing despicable.”
I was in Ned Peppers. I’m still not sure exactly what happened. People were piling on top of each other to get out. It’s all a blur. Fucking awful.
— Daniel Williams (@xcadaverx) August 4, 2019
Daniel Williams death: Tributes pour in
His former musical family, The Devil Wear Prada, honoured memories tied to him and Dave Shapiro in an Instagram post, captioned: “(heart emoji) no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” The carousel post begins with an image of Daniel going hard on the drums at a live concert, followed by a happy pic of Dave at his aviation services business Velocity Aviation’s headquarter. Subsequent heartfelt additions included pictures of the band together, and other unforgettable moments they shared with Shapiro over the years.
Rock band We The Kings also mourned his death under of one William’s last IG posts. “I hope in some way you can sense all the love coming your way as has always been the case. You were ALWAYS a great time and I loved coming up in the scene at the same time as you,” the group commented. “I hope to wake up to hear that they got the names wrong and that you are still very much here. I’m grateful that I got to know you and to call you a friend. Rest in peace, love you man.”
“The coolest looking dude with the snake bites, flip flops, and American apparel jackets back in the day,” LA-based band Idle Waves’ vocalist Diego Alex wrote under the same post. “Man I wanted to be just like you. What an icon. Your music changed the game and you will never be forgotten. RIP legend.”
Niko Foxx, former guitarist of band Until I Wake, commented broken-hearted emojis. Meanwhile, Born of Osiris composer-drummer Cameron Losch wrote, “RIP Daniel (broken heart emoji) (praying emoji)” under a different post.
Podcast State of the Scene shared on X: “Heart goes out to Dave Shapiro and Daniel Williams’ family and friends. What a f***ing tragedy this week has been.”