A 43-year-old man has been charged with killing a longtime friend at a Montreal rooming house.

Rene Gagne did not enter a plea when he appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, charged with second-degree murder in the death of Daniel Forgues, 59.

They were both tenants in a rooming house at Saint-André and Ontario streets in Ville-Marie.

Police said they believe the stabbing happened after an argument. The victim was able to call 911 but died later in hospital.

According to their landlord, Gagne and Forgues came to Montreal from the Gaspe region and had been good friends for many years.

"It's horrible," Pierre-Paul Joubert said. "I don't understand what happened."

Police said they didn't know the motive for the stabbing, but one resident in the 10-unit building said over-crowding created tension.

This was the 29th homicide on Montreal police territory so far this year. Gagne will be held in custody until a court appearance in November.