Syracuse, N.Y. -- Shakeen Robbins wants you to know that if you've seen the video, he is not a monster.

Robbins was working at the Dunkin' donut shop on North Salina Street on Sunday night. He had already pushed out a couple who were arguing; the woman tried to stab the man, Robbins said.

Then, Robbins said, he tried to wake up Jeremy Dufresne, who had his head down on a table.

Dufresne didn't respond, so Robbins did something he says now he immediately regretted. He poured a pitcher of cold water on Dufresne. Another worker took video while a worker who had completed his shift watched.

You can hear laughing on the video that has been spread around the nation on social media. At a time when no one agrees on anything, everyone was repulsed by the cruelty of the mockery.

America, Shakeen Robbins has heard you.

"It was wrong, completely. I felt wrong as soon as I did it," Robbins said. "I want to apologize to him."

But he also wants to make two points: Up until five days before he poured the water on Dufresne's head, they had been friendly. And working in that donut shop at that hour is no easy thing.

Robbins, who is 28 with a fiancee and two small children, says he was homeless five years ago. So when he started working at the Dunkin' about four months ago, he wanted to help Dufresne.

"We've been in same predicament when we were wandering the streets," Robbins said.

He said at the end of his shift or when no one was around, he'd give Dufresne something to eat even though it was against the rules. And they'd chat about life if it wasn't too busy, Robbins said.

"We'd have conversations about sports, girls, how to better himself," Robbins said.

Robbins knew Dufrense slept on the street, and he knew he often didn't get much to eat on Saturdays and Sundays. Dufrense eats at the Samaritan Center during the week.

Two weeks ago, he took some macaroni and cheese and goulash that his fiancee made and searched out Dufresne's usual spots. But he didn't find him that night, he said.

Robbins said he'd also offered to take Dufresne to a shelter. And he offered to try to help him get a job at some of the places he'd worked. He even tried to get him a job at Dunkin', he said.

But mostly, Dufresne wasn't interested in help, Robbins said.

Dufresne said in an earlier interview with Syracuse.com that he preferred to live outside and he likes to spend most of his time alone. Dufresne has struggled with mental illness for much of his life. Robbins said he did not know that.

But Robbins said Dufresne started to cause trouble about five days before he poured the water on him. Then, Robbins said he'd tried to wake up Dufresne five times and he didn't move or acknowledge him.

On Sunday, when Dufresne appeared to be sleeping, again, Robbins was already frustrated. He'd pushed the fighting couple out not long before.

"We go through a lot at nighttime," Robbins said. He did not call the police.

He said it's usually just him and another worker on the night shift. People shoot heroin in the bathroom, sometimes three or four times in a shift. Recently, a man came out of the bathroom, high on drugs, and tried to attack a female co-worker, Robbins said.

He said that on that shift he's dealt with people who have had knives and guns.

Robbins said he and other workers have spoken to the management about problems at the store.

"We've told them many times about the situation," Robbins said. "They tell us to call the cops. What are the cops going to do if they don't make it on time?"

Dufresne's mother, Bobbie Jo Richardson, said there's simply no excuse for how her son was treated.

"It doesn't matter if he is sorry," Richardson said.

She said she'd heard of Robbins from Dufresne, but only that he was unkind to her son. Not that he helped him.

Richardson also doubted that Dufresne would be hostile or threatening.

"He won't hurt anybody," she said.

Robbins said he instantly regretted pouring water on Dufresne. Robbins said he did not post the video to Facebook and it was not him laughing. His coworker who videoed it did. Once he realized it was up, he asked the coworker to take it down.

That was too late. People had already scraped the video and reposted it themselves.

The story was shared across the country and took on a life of its own.

Robbins lost his job. People are threatening him and his family on social media. His fiance is angry with him. He's not sure if the worker who took the video was also fired. Robbins has heard that he may face criminal charges.

Robbins said he'd like to do community service and work with a homeless outreach group, like Al-amin Muhammad's "Sandwich Saturdays." Muhammad said Robbins would be welcome to come help serve lunch to the homeless.

Robbins said he has not talked to Dufresne.

"I would like to apologize ... to let him know I never viewed him as a lesser person," Robbins said. "Let us try to figure out how to work through it."

As Robbins walked away down Salina Street after an interview, a Chihuahua ran into the street. He jumped in front of traffic to grab it, but the dog swerved and kept running. So did Robbins, sprinting for several blocks until the dog disappeared.

A woman who joined the chase, too, thanked Robbins. The two worried about the dog getting hit by a car.

Then a man sitting on a bench, who had watched the chase, hopped up as Robbins walked back. That was so nice of you, he said.

Marnie Eisenstadt is an enterprise reporter who writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Have an idea or question? Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246