Identities of All 6 People Who Died in Tragic San Diego Plane Crash Revealed — Details
The six people killed in last week’s San Diego plane crash have now been identified, shedding light on the victims of the tragic early-morning disaster.
Authorities have released the names of the six people who died in a small plane crash on May 22, 2025, in San Diego. The County’s Medical Examiner’s Office said the crash happened around 3:47 a.m. in the 10200 block of Sample Street in the Tierrasanta neighborhood, a residential area on U.S. Navy-owned land.
San Diego Fire-Rescue crews look through a damaged home in San Diego, California, after a small plane crashed into the neighborhood on May 22, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Among the victims were Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36, and Emma L. Huke, 25. Celina’s body was found in the driveway of a home, while Emma was located in a nearby yard. Both women died from multiple blunt force injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. Their deaths were ruled accidental.
A police officer surveys the scene after a small plane crashed into a San Diego home, causing heavy fire damage on May 22, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
The other victims were Kendall An Fortner, 24, whose body was found inside the aircraft on the street; Dominic Christopher Damian, 41, who was located on the street near the wreckage; and David Shapiro, 42, who was found inside the plane. Each was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sixth victim was Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the band The Devil Wears Prada, whose death was confirmed by his family to TMZ.
In the wake of the crash, families, friends, and colleagues from Sound Talent Group (STG) shared heartfelt tributes that reflected not only the tragedy of their loss but also the lives the victims led and the impact they made.
Emma, who was born and raised in Orange County, California, was remembered by her mother, Allison, in a deeply personal message shared through Emma’s Instagram account. “I am at a loss for words right now. I hope to find them later,” she wrote.
According to the post, Emma had been flying home from a concert at Madison Square Garden, where she had been working alongside her boss and colleagues from STG. Allison shared that something went wrong during the landing, and Emma tragically did not survive the crash.
“She was the light of our lives. And the world is much less bright today,” Allison said.
Allison said the family is still grieving and will share details about a celebration of life when they are ready. “We are just taking one hour at a time,” she wrote. Besides Allison, Emma is also survived by her father, Tim, and her younger sibling, Ellis.
Emma attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where she was part of a national championship-winning dance team. She later earned a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon in 2022 and joined STG as a booking associate in 2024 after completing several music industry internships.
According to the agency, Emma was driven by a deep love for live music. “She worked hard to save up money so she could travel to concerts and festivals. And while she loved all genres of music, her favorite artists to see live were Taylor Swift and The 1975,” the agency remarked.
Emma channeled that passion into her career. “She was smart and organized, helping STG plan and promote their biggest tours,” the agency continued. “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.”
Another STG employee remembered in the crash was Kendall, a booking coordinator at the company. She joined STG full-time after graduating in 2021 with a degree in business. Kendall was born in Glendale, California, and raised in Santa Clarita, where she attended West Ranch High School.
Kendall’s love for music began early, sparked by concerts she attended with her father. According to STG, her passion for the industry was clear even as a teenager, and she taught herself to play piano and guitar. “From 1950s doo-wop to classic rock, Green Day to Ed Sheeran, Kendall loved it all,” the agency shared.
Kendall Fortner smiles, wearing a blue gingham dress with red ribbons in her hair and a playful balloon animal clipped to her bag | Source: Instagram/kendall_fortner
Friends and colleagues also spoke about the energy and warmth Kendall brought into every space. “Fiercely independent and strong-willed, Kendall was the life of the party and lit up any room she entered,” STG said. Her job, they added, was “a perfect fit that showcased her work ethic and ability to plan tours and festivals nationwide.”
She is survived by her parents, Gary and Kristin, her brothers Justin and Jordan, and their families.
STG also lost one of its founding partners, Dave, who was piloting the plane. He had moved to Alaska in 2020 but remained closely involved in the music industry. In a tribute, STG highlighted his gift for discovering and mentoring artists.
“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,” the STG recalled. “Some of your favorite bands wouldn’t be on your playlists right now without Dave.”
The agency also spoke to the kind of person he was outside of work. “He was the best friend you could ever want – funny, full of life, always passionate about music, and never jaded,” the group wrote. “He was the guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.”
Dave is survived by his wife, Julia; his sister, Jennifer; his niece and nephew, Isabella and Jonathan Lee; and his dogs, Amigo, Juneau, and Monster.
Celina was a professional photographer who had joined the group to document a concert. Her family said she opted to take a late-night private flight with friends and crew to get home in time to take her daughter to school.
In a letter, they remembered her as “an amazing mother, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, partner and friend.” They added, “Celina’s legacy is her daughter and partner, her parents, as well as countless family members. Our family is devastated beyond these words. The world has lost a beautiful bright light.”
Dominic was a senior software engineer and Dave’s close friend. He held a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and trained at Baret Yoshida’s gym in San Diego, where a special event is planned in his honor. One tribute described him as intelligent, thoughtful, and skilled, widely respected within the jiu-jitsu community.
On his LinkedIn profile, Dominic worked at several tech companies, including Olive, Jock MKT, and Remo. He had over 15 years of experience in full-stack development and enjoyed leading teams at fast-growing startups. He was known for being skilled, supportive, and a calm leader in the workplace.
Daniel was a native of Dayton, Ohio. He began playing drums in sixth grade and toured internationally with The Devil Wears Prada band before leaving in 2016 to pursue a tech career. He later worked as a senior software architect at GoPro and Apple Inc.
The crash that killed six people reportedly remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
