A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 12-year-old boy at a downtown Toronto hotel Wednesday morning.

On Thursday, police identified the man as Hasadinn Plain of Toronto and the victim as Danai Plain.

The man appeared in the city's College Park courthouse Thursday morning wearing grey sweatpants and a grey sweatshirt. Except for brief exchanges with his lawyer, he didn't speak in court and nodded when the judge asked if he understood the court's instructions.

He is scheduled to make his next court appearance Tuesday by video.

Homicide detectives did not provide many details about the incident Wednesday, but said a "family situation" led to the stabbing.

Police responded to the scene at the Cambridge Suites Hotel, near the intersection of Richmond Street East and Victoria Street, just before 6 a.m. ET.

They found the boy in life-threatening condition. He was taken to hospital, where he later died.

The boy had been staying at the hotel with his family, police said.