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Arrest made in Nicki Minaj roadie killing

Philadelphia police have charged a man in the killing of a Nicki Minaj roadie outside a bar in East Germantown late last month.

Pierce Boykin, 31. (Photo courtesy of Philadelphia police)
Pierce Boykin, 31. (Photo courtesy of Philadelphia police)Read morePROVIDED PHOTO

Philadelphia police have charged a man in the killing of a Nicki Minaj roadie outside a bar in East Germantown late last month.

De'Von Pickett, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was fatally stabbed in a fight outside Che Bar & Grill, 6364 Stenton Ave., on Feb. 18. A coworker was seriously wounded in the attack.

Pierce Boykin, 31, of the Stenton section of Philadelphia, had previously been charged with attempted murder in the coworker's stabbing. On Tuesday, he was charged with Pickett's murder.

Police did not specify a motive in the slaying. Police sources have said the fight began after a brief altercation in the bar - which neither Pickett nor his friends was involved in - forced the bar's owner to kick everyone out.

Outside the bar, Pickett, his coworker, and a group of friends were approached by another group of men who began a fight, sources have said. Pickett was stabbed to death; his coworker was left in critical condition.

Boykin faces charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, and related offenses.

Pickett and his coworker had been in town for just two days to begin rehearsals for Minaj's forthcoming tour. A longtime roadie, he served as Minaj's road manager and had worked on tours featuring Britney Spears, Kanye West, and Rihanna.