>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

A former La Grande attorney shot and killed a man — apparently in self-defense — while having dinner in a restaurant in the Virgin Islands.

According to news accounts, Kip Roberson, who is employed as an assistant attorney general in the islands, was having a meal at the Smuggler’s Cove Bar and Restaurant in Christiansted when the incident occurred Friday.

The reports say that a dishwasher at the restaurant, Gabriel Thomas, 18, became upset when he was terminated from his job. Thomas armed himself with knives from the kitchen and tried to attack his former boss and employees.

Roberson was one of several patrons witnessing the confrontation. He intervened, and Thomas began advancing on him.

Roberson asked the man several times to stop, the news accounts say. Thomas continued to advance and Roberson shot him twice with his licensed firearm.

Thomas ran outside the restaurant and collapsed. Minutes later, a medical examiner pronounced him dead at the scene.

 Police say that based on eyewitness accounts, the shooting appears to have been justifiable homicide. Roberson, however, was placed on leave pending official results of the investigation.

Roberson formerly was a partner in the La Grande law office of  Ricker and Roberson. He moved to the St. Thomas-St. Croix area in the islands in May 2007.

He was admitted to the Virgin Islands bar  association last month.