That friend, Kesslering, says he came without warning.



"I fell on the ground," Kesslering said. "I got up and my hands were numb and in pain and I realized a man struck me. This was a random act of violence and it's a misdemeanor. It's not a misdemeanor to me because I went to the hospital. So my question is, 'how do you prevent this man from hurting someone else?'"



The two are still trying to make sense of it, but say the situation taught them that there is good in people.



"You have everybody: black, white, tall, short, old trying to stop him," said Smith. "We were trying to stop him without hurting him altogether. Just one person is broken doesn't mean the French Quarter is scary."



And while those targeted try and heal, their message to others is to be on the lookout, because this random act, they say, could happen to anyone, anywhere.



"If something like this happens to people, say something, do something," said Kesslering.