Washington, Nov 5 (IANS): A man was stabbed to death in the US state of Maryland at an outlet of American fast-food chain Popeyes after an altercation apparently involving the restaurant's popular chicken sandwich, which was back on the menu after a hiatus, media reports said.

An argument between two men started inside the restaurant on Monday, reportedly while the victim was in line for the sandwich, then spilled out into the street, where he was fatally stabbed, the Washington-based WJLA news channel reported.

About an hour later, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

"Our homicide detectives are hard at work on this one, but we have been able to determine preliminarily that this is related to the release of the sandwich here at this restaurant," said Jennifer Donelan, Prince George's County Police spokeswoman.

The suspect was still at large, and police were asking witnesses to come forward so they can identify him.

The police believe that the altercation might have arisen over someone cutting in line at the restaurant.