De'Von Pickett had been in town for only two days. The Bronx native - a road manager for rapper Nicki Minaj - was in Philadelphia to start rehearsals for her forthcoming tour, and took the opportunity to meet up with a few friends Tuesday night. By the next morning, he was dead. Pickett, 29, succumbed to stab wounds dealt outside an East Germantown bar in an early-morning attack. On Tuesday evening, Pickett and four friends - some from the tour, some local - had been out drinking, bouncing from Cavanaugh's in University City to Che Bar & Grill, a small, unassuming bar in East Germantown with a pool table and a dance floor. They knew the bartender there, a law enforcement source said. 
 
 At some point, a former Che employee showed up at the bar, drunk, the source said. She got into a fight with the owner. And when she walked behind the bar and started pouring herself drinks, the source said, the owner kicked everyone out. 
 
 Pickett and his friends filed out with the rest of the evening crowd. They hadn't been involved in the dispute, the source said. 
 
 But it was late, past 2 a.m., and the group wanted to make sure their bartender friend made it safely to her car, the source said. 
 
 Someone called her to make sure she was all right. She'd be out soon, she told them, and so Pickett and his friends waited by her car. That's when, police say, two to three men, at least one carrying a knife, approached. They began pushing and shoving Pickett and his friends, who tried to defuse the situation, the source said. 
 
 It would be to no avail. In the ensuing attack, Pickett was stabbed to death. A friend of his, a 27-year-old man who also worked for Minaj, was wounded and remained in critical condition at Einstein Medical Center, where Pickett was pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m. 
 
 Minaj, on Instagram, called the attack "unbelievable." 
 
 "Another senseless act of violence that took the life of a great guy. So sad," she wrote. 
 
 The singer Rihanna posted a photo on Instagram showing her smiling next to Pickett - he had worked on Kanye West's 2008 Glow in the Dark tour, which also featured Rihanna. 
 
 "One of the nicest, coolest, funniest people I've ever met and toured with," she wrote. "Sad to lose a beautiful spirit like yours." 
 
 On Wednesday, police were still trying to piece together exactly what led to the death of Pickett, nicknamed "Day Day," a longtime roadie who had worked on several high-profile tours, including shows for Britney Spears. 
 
 It was unclear, the source said, whether the altercation with the former employee inside the bar was connected to the attack outside. Detectives recovered surveillance footage of the incident from nearby businesses. The bar, a two-story brick establishment at 6364 Stenton Ave., anchors a strip of mom-and-pop stores. 
 
 Residents said the bar, though it has changed owners, had been a neighborhood fixture for nearly 30 years. In that time, neighbors said, they could not recall a similar incident. 
 
 "It's nothing that's different than any other bar - a little rowdy, but no hostilities, no shootings, nothing," said Barry Kelinson, who owns the clothing store next door to the bar. 
 
 "It's a nice, quiet, neighborhood bar," said Vanita Cruse, who owns an eyeglass store across the street. 
 
 A man at the front door who identified himself as the bar's manager declined to comment. 
 
 Meanwhile, Pickett's friends and colleagues expressed shock and grief at the news. 
 
 "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," the rapper Fabolous wrote on Instagram. 
 
 Police described Pickett's killer as a man in his 30s, about 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds with a light complexion, thin build, and full beard. He was last seen in dark gold Buick LeSabre. 
 
 awhelan@philly.com 
 
 215-854-2961 @aubreyjwhelan 

 Two members of Nicki Minaj's touring crew were stabbed outside of a bar in Philadelphia on early Wednesday morning (Feb. 18), and one of the team members was killed in the incident, the rapper confirmed on Twitter. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Two members of my team were stabbed last night in Philly. One was killed. They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour. -- NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) February 18, 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 Billboard has confirmed with the Philadelphia Police Department that two people were stabbed during an incident in the city last night, with one dead and one in critical condition. The Philadelphia PD would not reveal the names of the victims or any details of the incident, the men in Minaj's Instagram photo, which she posted on Wednesday afternoon, have been confirmed to be De'Von "Day Day" Pickett, who was killed in the incident, and Eric Parker, who is in critical condition. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour," wrote Minaj on Twitter. She added in an Instagram caption, "These guys flew into Philly for my tour rehearsals 2 days ago and were both stabbed last night. #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." 
 
 
 
 According to an NBC-10 news report, the incident began during an argument inside the Che Bar & Grill in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane neighborhood around 2:30 AM on Wednesday morning. The argument spilled outside, where witnesses say the two victims were stabbed several times. Police are interviewing witnesses to the murder and analyzing surveillance video of the scene. 
 
 
 
 A rep for Minaj did not immediately respond to request for comment. Pickett's position within Minaj's touring crew has yet to be confirmed, although TMZ refers to the Brooklyn resident as a "stage hand." 
 
 
 
 Fabolous also posted about the incident on Instagram, writing that he has worked with both Pickett and Parker and that his "heart is heavy" with the news of their stabbings. "My friend @daydaydoesdis (left) died & my friend Eric Parker is in critical condition in the hospital fighting for his life," he wrote. "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." 
 
 
 
 Minaj's European headlining tour is scheduled to begin in Stockholm on Mar. 16. 
 
 Additional reporting by Joe Lynch, Billboard. 

 De'Von Pickett, tour manager for music star Nicki Minaj, was stabbed to death overnight in West Oak Lane. He was in town preparing for her upcoming tour. NBC10's Nefertiti Jacquez spoke with Pickett's cousin. (Published Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015) 
 
 A tour manager who was well-known in the music industry and was working on preparations for rap superstar Nicki Minaj's upcoming tour, died after a bar fight spread into a Philadelphia street. 
 
 De'Von Pickett, 29, of the Bronx, New York, was stabbed to death outside the Che Bar & Grill along Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane neighborhood early Wednesday morning. 
 
 Pickett was with Eric Reed, 27, and three other friends inside the bar around 2:35 a.m. when they got into an argument with another group of men, according to police. 
 
 “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,” said Chief Inspector Scott Small. 
 
 The argument spread outside the bar where one of the men pulled out a knife, police said. 
 
 Someone stabbed both Pickett and Reed several times. 
 
 Pickett suffered stab wounds in the torso while Reed suffered stab wounds to his left arm and left side. 
 
 A private car rushed both men to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Pickett died from his injuries at 2:45 a.m. Reed remained in fair condition late Wednesday. 
 
 Police later returned to the 6300 block of Stenton Avenue where they found personal items, a cellphone and blood on the sidewalk outside the bar. A Philadelphia Police crime camera and business surveillance cameras possibly captured at least part of the incident, said investigators. 
 
 Police said the suspect was last seen driving off in a gray Buick LeSabre. He is described as a 30-year-old man standing 5-foot, 8-inches tall and weighing 160 pounds with a full beard. He was last seen wearing a black and gray jacket. 
 
 Earlier, witnesses told investigators that the dispute possibly had to do with a recently fired employee. Small said that police were working to verify if that was actually the case. 
 
 Both Pickett and Reed were tour managers who were working on preparations for Minaj's "The Pinkprint Tour," which is set to begin next month in Sweden. Pickett was also the co-founder of BK Nerd & Co. and was well-known in the music industry for his work in branding and public relations. 
 
 Minaj tweeted that she knew the victims were in Philly to rehearse for her upcoming tour: 
 
 Two members of my team were stabbed last night in Philly. One was killed. They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour. — NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) Feb. 18, 2015 
 
 Pickett's cousin, who did not want to be identified, also confirmed with NBC10 that Pickett was in Philly to work on the tour with Philly rapper Meek Mill. 
 
 "They were all here for her," the cousin said. "I guess they were out celebrating and things went wrong." 
 
 During his career, Pickett worked with some of the biggest stars in the music industry, including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Hip-Hop artist, Fabolous, who shared his condolences on his Instagram page. 
 
 Rihanna also posted photos of her and Pickett on her Instagram page as well. 
 
 can't believe this is true! one of the nicest, coolest, funniest people I've ever met and toured with! We had so much fun together!!! Sad to lose a beautiful spirit like yours #RIPDayDay A photo posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Feb 18, 2015 at 10:59am PST #RipDayDay you are loved and will be missed. A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on Feb 18, 2015 at 1:37pm PST throwback #RIPDayDay A photo posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Feb 18, 2015 at 11:37am PST 
 
 Family and friends, including Questlove of the Roots, also shared their condolences on Twitter, using the hashtag #RIPDayDay. 
 
 Pickett's cousin told NBC10 he came all the way from New York to mourn. 
 
 "He was a great guy," he said. "He didn't deserve this. He set an example for a lot of guys in this industry and it's sad to see this happen." 
 
 The City of Philadelphia is offering a $20,000 reward for an arrest and conviction in Pickett's death.
– Two members of Nicki Minaj's touring team were stabbed—one fatally—early yesterday outside a bar in Philly, where they were rehearsing for the tour. Minaj confirmed the news on Twitter, and Billboard confirmed the stabbings with the Philadelphia Police Department, though PPD would not reveal details or names. In her tweet, Minaj noted that the men had only been in the city two days. She also posted a photo of them on Instagram, and they have been confirmed as De'Von "Day Day" Pickett and Eric Parker. Parker survived. Pickett, who was Minaj's 29-year-old tour manager, was out with four friends. Reports via NBC Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Inquirer differ, but an argument broke out inside the Che Bar & Grill around 2:30am. The fight spread into the street, where one man pulled a knife; both Pickett and Parker were stabbed several times. Police are still searching for the suspect. Pickett is well-known in the music industry, and celebrities including Rihanna and Questlove have been mourning him on social media. Minaj's tour is set to begin March 16 in Stockholm.