“I’d rather he hit me than some homeless guy. His life already stinks,” she said. “I can go home, shower, and I will wake up fine tomorrow.”

Parillo returned to panhandling shortly after the incident.

“I’m here every day. I’m scared but I’m not leaving because of him,” Parillo said.

Many people in Harvard Square said they were shocked that such an incident could occur on a normally quiet side street.

“It was ultra fast-paced. I was thinking ‘What’s going on? Has anyone been hurt?” said Alan D. Yarbrough, who works at Ferranti-Dege photo store on Mass. Ave. and Linden Street.

Veazie said she left the scene shaken and teary-eyed.

“I’ll be all right,” Veazie said. “I’m shocked, a little less disillusioned.”

Yarbrough said he doesn’t think the Square is any less safe after the incident.

“It shows these things can happen anywhere,” he said. “I hope this is only a once in a lifetime experience.”

—Staff writer Hana R. Alberts can be reached at alberts@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Faryl W. Ury can be reached at ury@fas.harvard.edu.