Two members of American rapper Nicki Minaj’s tour crew were stabbed in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighbourhood on Wednesday morning, after an altercation inside the Che Bar and Grill spilled out onto the street.
Tour manager, De’Von Pickett, 29, suffered multiple stab wounds to the torso and died at Albert Einstein Medical Center at 2.45am local time (9.45am in Nigeria). Eric Parker, a 27-year old tour manager, was hospitalised after being stabbed in the arm and torso. By Thursday morning, NBC Philadelphia had reported that Reed was in fair condition.
Pickett and Parker, both New Yorkers, were in Philadelphia making preparations for Minaj’s Pinkprint tour, due to begin on 16 March in Stockholm, Sweden.
According to LinkedIn, Pickett previously worked on tours with Britney Spears, N*E*R*D, and Kanye West. Pickett also co-founded branding and communications agency BK NERD & CO. The agency’s clients include Vespa NYC.
“These guys flew into Philly for my tour rehearsals 2 days ago and were both stabbed last night,” Minaj wrote, in an Instagram photo caption. “#RIPDAYDAY condolences to your family. Unbelievable. Eric (on the right) is recovering. Another senseless act of violence that took the life of a great guy. So sad.”
Pop star Rihanna, musician Questlove and Brooklyn rapper Fabolous are among those who have paid tribute to Pickett on social media since his death.
Rihanna described Pickett as “one of the nicest, coolest, funniest people I’ve ever met and toured with.”
“Please send Eric Parker your blessings & a prayer for him to pull thru,” wrote Fabolous in an Instagram post. “And RIP to the fallen soldier Day Day.”
But the show must go on.
Minaj attended the Marc Jacobs fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 held at Park Avenue Armory on Thursday in New York City looking super fierce in a fur coat and animal print boots.
