Authorities Release Names of All 6 Victims in San Diego Plane Crash
Identities of All 6 People Who Died in Tragic San Diego Plane Crash Revealed – Details
The identities of the six fatalities from last week’s San Diego plane crash have come to light, providing insight into the victims of the terrible early-morning catastrophe.
The names of the six individuals who perished in a small plane crash near San Diego on May 22, 2025, have been made public by authorities.
The incident occurred in the Tierrasanta community, a residential area on U.S. Navy-owned land, in the 10200 block of Sample Street at approximately 3:47 a.m., according to the County’s Medical Examiner’s Office.
Emma L. Huke, 25, and Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36, were among the victims. Emma was discovered in a nearby yard, while Celina’s body was discovered in a house’s driveway.
Both women were declared dead at the scene after suffering several blunt force injuries. Their deaths were declared to be unintentional.
The other victims were David “Dave” Shapiro, 42, who was discovered inside the plane; Dominic Christopher Damian, 41, who was discovered on the street close to the debris; and Kendall An Fortner, 24, whose body was discovered inside the plane on the street. At the scene, each was declared dead.
Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the band The Devil Wears Prada, was the sixth casualty; his family confirmed his passing to TMZ.
Following the disaster, Sound Talent Group (STG) coworkers, friends, and families posted moving tributes that captured not just the grief of their loss but also the lives and contributions of the dead.
In a very personal letter posted on Emma’s Instagram account, her mother, Allison, paid tribute to Emma, who was born and reared in Orange County, California. “I am currently at a lost for words. She wrote, “I hope to find them later.”
The article stated that Emma had been traveling home from a Madison Square Garden event, where she had been working with her supervisor and other STG employees.
Emma tragically died in the collision after something went wrong during the landing, according to Allison.
“She brought brightness into our lives. Allison said, “And the world is much less bright today.”
The family was still in mourning, she continued, and when they were ready, they would provide information on a life celebration.
“We are just taking one hour at a time,” she wrote. In addition to Allison, Emma’s father, Tim, and younger brother, Ellis, all survive her.
Emma participated in a dance team that won a national title while she was a student at Santa Margarita Catholic High School.
After completing multiple internships in the music industry, she later graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon in 2022 and joined STG as a booking associate in 2024.
Emma was motivated by her passion for live music, the organization said. “She put a lot of effort into saving money so she could attend festivals and concerts.
Although she enjoyed all kinds of music, the agency noted that Taylor Swift and The 1975 were her favorite live performers.
Emma turned that enthusiasm into a career. The agency went on to say, “She was intelligent and well-organized, helping STG plan and promote their biggest tours.”
“Clients and friends called Emma a force of nature, and she was a beautiful soul who brought joy and a light to everyone in her presence.”
Kendall, a booking coordinator for STG, is another employee recalled in the accident. She earned a business degree in 2021 and began working at STG full-time.
Having grown up in Santa Clarita, where she went to West Ranch High School, Kendall was born in Glendale, California.
Attending concerts with her father ignited Kendall’s early passion for music. Even as a teenager, she shown a strong interest in the field and trained herself to play the guitar and piano, according to STG. “From 1950s doo-wop to classic rock, Green Day to Ed Sheeran, Kendall loved it all,” it said.
Colleagues and friends also praised Kendall’s warmth and vitality in every setting. “Fiercely independent and strong-willed, Kendall was the life of the party and lit up any room she entered,” said STG. They went on to say that her work was “a perfect fit that showcased her work ethic and ability to plan tours and festivals nationwide.”
Her brothers, Justin and Jordan, as well as their families, are her survivors, along with her parents, Gary and Kristin.
David, one of STG’s original partners, who was flying the aircraft, also passed away.
Despite moving to Alaska in 2020, he continued to be heavily involved in the music industry and was also known by his friends as Dave. STG praised his talent for finding and coaching artists in a tribute.
“Dave’s superpower was his ability to recognize new talent, work with their unique skills and sound, and give them the counsel and resources to make a living in the music industry,” according to the STG. “Some of your favorite bands wouldn’t be on your playlists right now without Dave.”
David’s personality outside of work was also discussed by the agency. “He was the best friend you could ever want – funny, full of life, always passionate about music, and never jaded,” they wrote. “He was the guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.”
The following people survive David: his sister Jennifer, his niece Isabella and nephew Jonathan Lee, his wife Julia, his dogs Amigo, Juneau, and Monster, and his sister Jennifer.
Professional photographer Celina had joined the team to take pictures at a concert. According to her family, in order to come home in time to drop her daughter off at school, she decided to board a late-night private flight with friends and crew.
They wrote in a letter that she was “an amazing mother, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, partner, and friend.”
“Her daughter and partner, her parents, and innumerable family members are Celina’s legacy,” they continued. Words cannot express how sad our family is. A lovely, bright light has vanished from the planet.
David was good friends with Dominic, a senior software programmer. A special ceremony is being organized in his honor at Baret Yoshida’s gym in San Diego, where he trained and earned a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. According to one memorial, he was well-liked by the jiu-jitsu community and was knowledgeable, considerate, and skilled.
Dominic listed a number of IT startups on his LinkedIn profile, including Olive, Jock MKT, and Remo. Having worked in full-stack programming for more than 15 years, he loved managing teams at rapidly expanding firms. In the workplace, he was seen as a capable, encouraging, and composed leader.
Dayton, Ohio, was Daniel’s hometown.
Before departing in 2016 to pursue a career in technology, he toured the world with The Devil Wears Prada band and started playing drums in sixth grade.
Later on, he was employed by Apple Inc. and GoPro as a senior software architect.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still looking into the collision that claimed six lives.
