When an altercation between Echevarria and Bleau “became tense,” Echevarria called her mother around 3 a.m. and asked her to pick her up, but blizzard conditions prevented this, prosecutors said.

“Moments later, Echevarria called 911 after stabbing Bleau five times with a kitchen knife,” prosecutors said. “When officers arrived, they found Bleau lying on the kitchen floor, bleeding profusely from his wounds.”

He was taken to Baystate Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, authorities said.

Prosecutors said the sentence was “appropriate given the potential issue of self-defense in the case, combined with Echevarria’s age, lack of criminal history and willingness to accept responsibility before trial.”

A plea deal was reached in consultation with Bleau’s family, prosecutors said. Echevarría had initially been charged with murder after her arrest.

Maura Tansley, Echevarria’s attorney, said she believed the sentence was appropriate.

“From the beginning, I argued for an involuntary manslaughter charge rather than a murder charge because, in my opinion, that was most appropriate to the facts,” Tansley said. “What concerned us most was that while we believed the facts supported, at best, a verdict of manslaughter, we had to recognize that there was a possibility that a jury could have found her guilty of murder. A murder conviction would have meant that Ms. Echevarría would be sentenced to life in prison and that would not have been justice.”

Echevarría “never had the intention of causing the death of Mr. Bleau. “As he shared with the court, events unfolded in a terrifying manner and the result is a tragedy beyond comprehension,” he said.

After stabbing Bleau, Echevarria told officers that they had acted in self-defense, according to a police report.

She “stated that she had been in a physical altercation with Bleau, during which she armed herself with a kitchen knife and swung it at Bleau after he pinned her against the kitchen counter,” the report says, adding that Echevarría had “some abrasions on his legs.”

Bleau suffered stab wounds to “the chest, abdomen, shoulder, armpit and triceps,” police said. Echevarría “at no time did he claim that Bleau was armed with any type of weapon.”

Bleau’s death was the first homicide in Easthampton since the 2012 murder of Jessica Ann Pripstein, who was killed by her boyfriend. Ryan Welchauthorities have said. Welch is serving a life sentence.

An online obituary for Bleau said he had attended Chicopee Comprehensive High School.

“Brennen was a go-getter and very family-oriented and was always very kind and had the best for everyone.” the obituary read. “He was known for having a smile that lit up the room every time he walked in. He was respectful and laughed like no other. “He lived by his passion for music and cars.”

Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report. This breaking news will be updated when more information is released.

Travis Andersen can be reached at [email protected].