Nicki Minaj crew member dead, another critical after Philly stabbing

Nicki Minaj on Wednesday was among those mourning the early-morning stabbing death of one of her road crew members in an incident that left another roadie injured.

“Two members of my team were stabbed last night in Philly,” the “Bang Bang” singer said on Twitter. “One was killed. They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour.”

De’Von Pickett, Eric Parker and three other friends had gone out drinking Tuesday night at a couple of bars in Philly, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The second bar was cleared after -- unrelated to Pickett and Parker’s group -- a drunk former employee got into a fight with the bartender, a law-enforcement source told the paper.

The group was waiting by their bartender friend’s car to make sure she was OK getting to her vehicle, the source said, when they were approached by two or three armed men who started pushing them around.

Efforts to turn down the heat in the conflict failed, according to the paper, and Pickett, 29, was pronounced dead around 2:45 a.m. at a hospital.

According to the Inquirer’s police source, it was unclear whether the incident inside the bar was related to the attack outside. Police told the Associated Press that Parker, 27, was in critical condition after being stabbed in the left side and arm.

“these guys flew into Philly for my tour rehearsals 2 days ago and were both stabbed last night,” Minaj continued on Instagram, posting a picture of the two men. “#RIPDAYDAY condolences to your family. Unbelievable. Eric ... is recovering. Another senseless act of violence that took the life of a great guy. So sad.”

Minaj’s Pinkprint Tour kicks off March 16 in Stockholm.

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