Suspect in Minaj roadie's stabbing now charged with murder

After weeks of investigation, murder charges have been filed in the stabbing death of one of Nicki Minaj's road managers at an East Germantown bar.

Pierce Boykin, 31, of Sedgwick Street near Thouron Avenue in East Mount Airy, has been charged with murder in the death of De'Von "Day-Day" Pickett, Homicide Unit Captain James Clark said.

Boykin was arrested Feb. 23 and charged with attempted murder and related offenses in an attack on Pickett and another man outside the Che Bar and Grill, on Stenton Avenue near Johnson Street.

He posted bail and was arrested again today.

Clark said the upgraded charges came after additional interviews with witnesses who watched the brawl unfold just before 3 a.m. on Feb. 18.

Now, Boykin is considered the prime suspect in the stabbing that killed Pickett, 29, and severely wounded his co-worker Eric Parker, 27, who were in town to help Minaj prepare for an upcoming tour.

The attack was spurred by an argument inside the bar, allegedly over a female employee that both the victims and the aggressors knew, police have said.

When the bar closed, Pickett and Parker stood outside, watching to make sure that their friend, a bartender at Che, made it to her car safely, a police source told the Daily News today.

As they watched, the woman was approached by a group of men, the source said.

When Pickett and Parker tried to intervene, one of the attackers pulled out a knife, stabbing Pickett multiple times in the torso and Parker in his left arm and side.

The victims were driven to Albert Einstein Medical Center by a third man, police said. Pickett died there, and Parker remained there in critical condition for days.

Witnesses told police that the man wielding the knife had a full beard and wore a black jacket during the attack. He drove off in a dark-colored Buick LeSabre, police said.

Hours after the stabbing, Rihanna described Pickett, who had previously worked with her, on Twitter as "one of the nicest, coolest, funniest people I've ever met and toured with!"

The singer added: "Sad to lose a beautiful spirit like yours #RIPDayDay."