A man who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of rap superstar Nicki Minaj's tour manager is now charged with murder.
Pierce Boykin was charged with murder Tuesday in addition to his previous charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault and other related offenses.
Boykin was arrested Feb. 23.
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 Feb. 18 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, 29, 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 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 captured at least part of the incident, said investigators.
Pickett, 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 local 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 remains hospitalized in fair condition.
