A 31-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal stabbing at a home near York University overnight that neighbours said began with a dispute over religion between friends.

Alijan Arif Khan appeared in court Tuesday and has been charged with second-degree murder.

Police identified the slain man as 28-year-old Alpe Efe.

Police were called to the Boake Street and Assiniboine Road area in the York University Heights neighbourhood after 1 a.m. Tuesday.

"They've been having an argument over a couple of days now over religion and stupid stuff. Whenever they get drunk they always fight," neighbour Fateh Santhu told CBC News.

"Last night for some reason it got out of hand ... and somebody just took out a knife and started stabbing."

Stabbing: Boake St and Assiniboine Rd - York U Heights - Victim without vital signs to closest hospital. <a href="https://twitter.com/TPS31Div">@TPS31Div</a> <a href="https://t.co/jCTdf1eMCM">pic.twitter.com/jCTdf1eMCM</a> —@LateNightCam

Toronto police say they received a call for an argument between two men, and arrived on scene to find a man in his 20s without vital signs suffering from multiple stab wounds. Paramedics rushed the man to the closest hospital, where he died.

Megan Griffith has lived in the area only for a couple of days. She said she heard the two men talking around 4 p.m., a conversation that ran until at least 10 p.m, that ended in yelling and screaming.

"It started out as a normal conversation and it got really heated, about religion."

Megan Griffith has only lived in the area for a couple of days. She said she heard the two men talking around 4 p.m., a conversation that ran until at least 10 p.m., and ended in yelling and screaming. (CBC)

She said she's heard the two men arguing twice before. "But it wasn't anything like what I heard last night," she said.

"I heard one guy say, 'It's because you're Arabic,' and the other guy said, 'No it was your people.'"

Despite the initial report, police said a number of men were involved in the altercation.

Both the suspect and the victim knew each other, Toronto police Const. Victor Kwong tweeted.

York confirmed to CBC News Tuesday night that the victim was not a student there, and that the accused did attend the university.

Update: Stabbing victim has been pronounced deceased. <a href="https://twitter.com/TPSHomicide">@TPSHomicide</a> will be taking over this investigation & they will provide updates ^rm —@TPSOperations The homicide unit has taken over the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-3100.