Nicki Minaj's tour manager, DeVon Pickett, was killed in a Philadelphia bar fight early Wednesday while he was in the city preparing for an upcoming tour stop there by the popular woman rapper.
Pickett, 29, was stabbed to death outside the Che Bar & Grill in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane neighborhood, police told
WCAU-TV. They said the fight started inside the bar and spilled into the street.
WCAU-TV said a second man who was part of Minaj's crew was stabbed and hospitalized. The television station identified him as Eric Reed, 27, but
TMZ and
Billboard said his name was Eric Parker. Hip hop artist Fabolous referred to him as Eric Parker in an Instagram message asking fans for their support.
"My friend @daydaydoesdis died & my friend Eric Parker is in critical condition in the hospital fighting for his life," Fabolous wrote on Instagram. "I am still in shock & don't want to believe this. And it hurts even more knowing how good these two dudes are. How hard these guys work. And how loyal they are to whoever they are down with & each other. Please send Eric Parker your blessings & a prayer for him to pull thru. And RIP to the fallen soldier Day Day."
Authorities told WCAU-TV that Pickett, Parker and three others friends were inside the bar about 2:35 a.m. Wednesday when an argument started with a group of other men and a fight broke out.
"We believe that both of the victims, as well as the perpetrator, were all inside of this bar and that's when an argument started," Chief Inspector Scott Small told the television station.
When the argument continued outside the bar, someone took out a knife and stabbed both Pickett and Parker several times, Small told WCAU-TV. Pickett suffered stab wounds in the torso while Parker suffered stab wounds to his left arm and left side, he added.
Minaj confirmed the incident Wednesday on Twitter and Instagram.
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