One Marine allegedly stabbed another Marine to death early Saturday morning in Washington, D.C., according to police.

Michael Poth, 20, allegedly fatally stabbed Philip Bushong once with a pocket knife after the two got into an argument during which Poth used a homophobic slur against Bushong.

Bushong, 23, was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The stabbing occurred around 2:40 a.m. Saturday in front of a sporting goods store  across from the Marine Barracks in southeast Washington.

"At this time, it does not appear they knew each other," Metro Police Department homicide detective Lt. Robert Alder told ABC News affiliate WJLA.

A witness told police the two men were arguing, but the scene turned violent after the anti-gay slur.

"We do not have any information there was physical contact before this", Alder told WJLA. "It was just an exchange of words, which escalated and wound up with a stabbing occurring."

Marine guards who saw the incident chased Poth as he tried to flee the scene.

Poth, who is originally from Pittsburgh, Pa., but was based at the Marine barracks, was charged Saturday with second-degree murder while armed. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

A woman who identified herself as Bushong's girlfriend told WJLA by phone that the stabbing was "an unfortunate event… That [it] had nothing to do with name calling."