Police arrested one of the men they say was involved in the stabbing of two members of Nicki Minaj's crew that left the rap superstar's tour manager dead.
Philadelphia Police Homicide Detectives arrested Pierce Boykin late Monday night on attempted murder and assault charges.
Police said the 31-year-old was involved in an argument at Che Bar & Grill along Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighborhood early Wednesday morning that left Eric Parker injured and De’Von Pickett dead.
An argument over a woman ultimately led to the stabbings, said sources close to the investigation.
Pickett and Parker, 27, were with a few friends outside the bar around 2:35 a.m. making sure that one of the bartenders, a woman that Parker was dating, made it to her car safely when a group of men approached the woman, according to sources.
Parker apparently asked the woman if she was OK and that’s when the fight broke out, sources said.
Pickett and Parker were stabbed several times. Pickett suffered stab wounds in the torso while Parker suffered stab wounds to his left arm and left side.
A private car rushed both men to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Pickett died from his injuries at a short time later.
Police later returned to Stenton Avenue where they found personal items, a cellphone and blood on the sidewalk outside the bar. A Philadelphia police crime camera and business surveillance cameras that captured at least part of the incident, said investigators.
More arrests could be coming. Last week, Police Capt. James Clark says arrests in the stabbing death of Pickett were imminent.
"We believe we have identified all of the participants involved in this fight and ultimate murder," said Clark.
Sources told NBC10 that the woman in the middle of the fight was dating Parker as well as one of the attackers.
Pickett was a tour manager and Parker, a tour employee, were working on preparations for Minaj's "The Pinkprint Tour," which is set to begin next month in Sweden.
Minaj tweeted that she knew the victims were in Philly to rehearse for her upcoming tour:
Two members of my team were stabbed last night in Philly. One was killed. They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour.
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) Feb. 18, 2015
Pickett's cousin, who did not want to be identified, also confirmed with NBC10 that Pickett was in Philly to work on the tour with city rapper Meek Mill.
"They were all here for her," the cousin said. "I guess they were out celebrating and things went wrong."
During his career, Pickett worked with some of the biggest stars in the music industry, including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Hip-Hop artist, Fabolous, who shared his condolences on his Instagram page.
Rihanna also posted photos of her and Pickett on her Instagram page as well.
The City of Philadelphia offered a $20,000 reward for an arrest and conviction in Pickett's death.
Parker remained hospitalized in fair condition late last week.
Photo Credit: NBC10 / Philadelphia Police
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.
