Arrest in stabbing of Nicki Minaj tour members

AP

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia man has been arrested in connection with the stabbings of two members of rapper Nicki Minaj's tour crew, one of whom died.

Authorities say 31-year-old Pierce Boykin was arrested Monday on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and related offenses.

It wasn't immediately clear if investigators were looking for other suspects.

The double stabbing last Wednesday left 29-year-old Devon Pickett dead and a second member of Minaj's tour, who is reported to be 27, severely wounded.

The wounded crew member, identified by TMZ and by Minaj on her Twitter feed as Eric Parker, remains in critical condition.

Police say the stabbing occurred outside a bar after the victims argued with a man inside.

According to Minaj, the crew members had arrived in Philadelphia only two days earlier to rehearse for a tour.

She retweeted a story from the website of the local NBC affiliate, which said the violence began around 2 a.m. Wednesday inside Che Bar & Grill, and then spread into the street along Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia's neighborhood.

The assailant, according to police, was last seen driving away in a gray Buick LeSabre.

Neither Boykin nor an attorney for him could be reached Tuesday to comment on the charges.