Six believed dead, 8 injured, several homes damaged after civilian jet crashes in Murphy Canyon

SAN DIEGO — A small civilian jet crashed into a military housing complex in Murphy Canyon during foggy weather early Thursday, killing six people and damaging 10 homes, forcing evacuations along several blocks.

Authorities confirmed there were six people aboard the Cessna 550, though only three have been identified. Eight others on the ground suffered mostly minor injuries.

An El Cajon talent agency said three of its staff, including the firm’s co-founder, perished in the crash.

---

• Military training, luck saved lives in Murphy Canyon after fiery plane crash
• Cessna crash in San Diego neighborhood spotlights hazards of flying in fog
• Murphy Canyon plane crash highlights San Diego’s airspace issues
• Music exec Dave Shapiro, killed in crash, called ‘best in the game’

---

The plane can carry six to eight people. Initially, officials had feared at least 10 people were aboard.

At a press conference at the scene on Salmon Street, San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo said no one on the ground was killed.

Two victims in the neighborhood were treated and released at the scene, according to San Diego police and fire officials, while six others required more medical attention.

“We know that there was many miracles and many heroic actions from our police department, from our firefighters and the military members themselves,” Campillo said. “I heard stories over at the school just near us about military families, helping military families out of their home(s), jumping out of windows, avoiding fire.”

“These people are going to be recovering for a long, long time, and the city of San Diego is going to be here to support them,” the councilmember added.

Billboard reported that three people who died in the crash were from Sound Talent Group in El Cajon. The publication identified one of them as Dave Shapiro, 42, the owner of the talent agency, who also runs a record label. The report also said he was a pilot.

The firm, which also has offices in New York City and Nashville, withheld the identities of the two other victims, citing the need to notify their families.

Another possible victim is Daniel Williams, former drummer for metal band The Devil Wears Prada. Early Thursday afternoon, the band posted several pictures of Williams on their social media pages, with the message, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”

Williams’ social media activity indicated he was onboard a plane with Shapiro on Wednesday night. Pictures posted on Williams’ Instagram page show a plane bearing a registration number that matches the plane investigators say crashed Thursday.

FAA records show that the plane, registered out of Alaska, is linked to a company owned by Shapiro.

The Cessna left Teterboro, New Jersey at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, and stopped over in Wichita, Kansas to refuel before departing for San Diego, according to Flightaware.com.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board said they believe the plane was bound for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.

The jet crashed at about 3:45 a.m. on approach to the municipal airport. NTSB investigator Elliott Simpson said that the plane struck power lines about two miles southeast of the airport, then collided with a house. Plane fragments were found beneath the powerlines.

Residents were in the house that was initially impacted, and neighbors helped them out, officials said.

The crash ignited a large fire at a two-story house, along with several vehicles. Over 100 firefighters converged on the area and by 7:45 a.m., most of the blazes had been extinguished except for one stubborn vehicle fire.

“I can’t quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with … everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.

“We have jet fuel all over the place,” Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy added during the news conference attended by Campillo, Simpson and several other authorities.

There was “a direct hit to multiple homes” in the neighborhood, Eddy said, while describing “a gigantic debris field” that spans multiple streets in the densely packed area.

No large piece of the fuselage has been found, he added. “When you have something that large coming in with that amount of speed, we’re going to have a lot of throw that goes every which direction.”

According to Eddy, it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed. “You could barely see in front of you,” he said.

Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang and saw smoke when they looked out the window. They grabbed their two young children and ran from the house. On their way out of the neighborhood they saw a car engulfed in flames.

“There was not only police, but other neighbors walking around, just making sure everybody got out of the houses and everything like that,” said another resident who fled, Rachel Willard.

A temporary evacuation center for neighborhood residents was set up at 4343 Shields St. at Miller Elementary School.

Both Hancock and Miller elementary schools, closed Thursday due to the crash, are set to re-open Friday. Officials with the San Diego Unified School District instructed parents to head westbound on Gurnard Street from Santo Road and turn south on Taussig Street to access Hancock.

A team from the San Diego Humane Society responded to the evacuation center to set up temporary shelter for pets and provide supplies. The Humane Society, called to the scene by authorities about an hour after the crash to help locate animals, took in eight dogs and eight puppies that had been exposed to jet fuel.

They are being treated at the organization’s San Diego and Escondido campuses. Trained volunteers also headed to the evacuation zone to retrieve animals left behind by owners who fled in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Devil Wears Prada (@tdwpband)

By 2:30 p.m., police reported that Taussig Street and Yorktown Drive had reopened to vehicle traffic, but Salmon, Sample Street and parts of Santo Road will remain closed while the NTSB investigation continues.

The northbound Interstate 15 off-ramp to Aero Drive was temporarily shut down, but has since reopened. All southbound lanes of the freeway near Santo also were temporarily closed, according to Caltrans.

Mayor Todd Gloria issued a statement following the crash, saying that “on behalf of our city, I extend my condolences to the families and loved ones of those aboard the plane,” while also expressing “my deepest gratitude to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, San Diego Police Department, CalFire and military police for their swift, coordinated response that quickly evacuated residents, extinguished fires and secured the area to ensure this tragedy was not compounded.”

He added that “San Diego will support the Navy as they assist the residents affected by this tragedy.”

Shapiro opened up shop in 2018, joining with co-founders Tim Borror and Matt Andersen, according to the agency’s website. Sound Talent Group’s client roster includes Pierce The Veil, Lamb of God, Sum 41, Hanson, Vanessa Carlton, Beartooth and Steve Vai. The firm employs around 40 people.

“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,” agency officials said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”

Both private and military jets have crashed in San Diego neighborhoods before. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane went down in Santee, killing the pilot and a UPS delivery driver on the ground and burning homes. It was preparing to land at the airport.

In 2008, a F/A-18 Hornet flying out of Miramar crashed in University City, destroying two homes and damaging a third. The crash killed four in one of the residences, two adults and two children. The pilot safety ejected.

Updated at 6:40 a.m. May 23, 2025.

Jennifer Vigil, Drew Sitton, Ken Stone, The Associated Press, City News Service and OnScene.TV contributed to this report.