Early Thursday morning, a Cessna 550 private jet crashed into San Diego’s Murphy Canyon neighborhood, leaving a trail of destruction and heartbreak. The fiery wreck, which happened just before 4 a.m. near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, claimed the lives of all six people on board and left eight residents injured. Homes burned, cars were reduced to charred shells, and nearly 100 military families were evacuated from the area. The tragedy has left the tight-knit community reeling, as stories of the victims—beloved figures in music, photography, and tech—begin to emerge.
The plane, which had taken off from Teterboro, New Jersey, and made a refueling stop in Wichita, Kansas, struck power lines before slamming into a house in the military housing community. Dense fog and a malfunctioning weather alert system at the airport may have played a role, though investigators are still piecing together the cause. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with a preliminary report expected within weeks. The crash site, described by San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl as “something from a movie,” saw jet fuel spill down streets, igniting fires that destroyed one home and damaged at least ten others.
Among the six presumed dead are three employees of Sound Talent Group, a San Diego-based music agency. Dave Shapiro, 42, the agency’s co-founder and a licensed pilot, was a towering figure in the music industry, representing bands like Sum 41 and Pierce The Veil. A passionate aviator, Shapiro owned the plane through his company, Velocity Aviation, and was known for his adventurous spirit, once flying to his wedding on a glacier in Alaska. “Dave was a visionary who gave so many bands their shot,” said Lionel Conway, a friend, in an interview with TODAY. Also lost were Emma Huke, 25, a booking associate and University of Oregon graduate described as a “force of nature” by her colleagues, and Kendall Fortner, 24, another booking associate whose love for music began at childhood concerts with her father. “Emma brought joy to everyone, and Kendall lit up every room,” Sound Talent Group said in a statement.
The other victims include Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36, a professional photographer who chose the private flight to get home in time to take her daughter to school. Her father, Bryan Charles Feldman, told NBC7, “Family was everything to her. The world has lost a beautiful, bright light.” Daniel Williams, 39, a former drummer for The Devil Wears Prada and a software engineer, was also on board, with the band posting a heartfelt tribute: “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” The sixth victim, Dominic Damian, was a software engineer and jiu-jitsu enthusiast, remembered by his Pacific Beach gym community.
Eight people on the ground were injured, mostly with non-life-threatening conditions like smoke inhalation. Five members of one family were hospitalized, and one person was hurt climbing out a window to escape the flames. “It’s a miracle no one on the ground was killed,” said San Diego Fire Assistant Chief Dan Eddy, praising neighbors who helped evacuate a family from the destroyed home. The San Diego Humane Society rescued 12 pets, including dogs doused in jet fuel, giving them decontamination baths.
The crash has left the Murphy Canyon community—a hub of Navy-owned housing—shaken. Residents like Christopher Moore described waking to a “loud bang” and fleeing with their families as cars burned. Mayor Todd Gloria vowed ongoing support, saying, “This military community is part of our city, and we’ll stand by them.” On social media, posts reflect grief and shock, with one user writing, “Heartbreaking for San Diego. Those victims were so talented, and the neighborhood’s forever changed.”
Investigators are examining why the plane, which had no mayday call, struck power lines and crashed. The NTSB noted fragments of the aircraft scattered under the lines and a wing found nearby. A final report could take up to two years. For now, the focus is on the lives lost—people who left lasting marks on their industries and loved ones—and a community picking up the pieces after a tragedy that hit far too close to home.
