Denner said his client had been assaulted and had acted in “reasonable self defense.”

By Denner’s account, Pring-Wilson had gone to a Western Avenue nightclub earlier that evening and encountered Colono when he was walking home.

Denner said Pring-Wilson was attacked by Colono and another man, and pulled a knife to ward off the attackers.

“Many people carry pocket knives. He’s from Colorado,” Denner said.

Police searched Pring-Wilson’s apartment Saturday afternoon, but have not yet recovered a weapon.

Denner had no comment on what Pring-Wilson did with the knife.

Denner said Pring-Wilson is “incredibly regretful someone lost their life” and “feels badly for the family and friends” of the victim.

Pring-Wilson has an “impeccable record,” Denner said, calling him “a lovely man.”

Neither Pring-Wilson nor Colono had criminal records and it was unclear whether the two knew each other or what they were arguing about, according to the District Attorney’s office.

“We don’t believe there was a prior relationship, but it’s obviously still early in the investigation,” LaGrassa said.

LaGrassa said Colono sustained four stab wounds to the torso and one to the arm.

“One of the wounds to the torso was the fatal wound,” she said.

Colono worked at a full-time job in Cambridge and had four brothers and sisters, his sister Wanda Rivera told the Associated Press.

Rivera could not be reached for comment, nor could Davis Center officials.

Pring-Wilson was a masters student there, and had received a fellowship in Serbo-Croatian studies for this year.