A North Carolina furniture manufacturer has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing his business partner hours after losing a contract dispute in court.
Willard Gary Black, 85, was arrested Wednesday following the fatal shooting of Robert Roger Arguelles, 59, at the Old Hickory Tannery, where both men were co-owners. Arguelles was struck in the chest and back and died at the scene, according to Queen City News.
The shooting occurred hours after a judge ordered Black to pay Arguelles $310,882.74 to settle a long-standing financial dispute. Court records show that in 2018, Black sold Arguelles 49.9% of the business stock, but Arguelles claimed he had loaned Black $280,000, of which only $23,876.19 was repaid. The two men had previously agreed to the settlement amount, but Black later sought to withdraw his consent. A judge denied his request and upheld the original agreement.
Authorities said the shooting followed an argument between the two men at the business. Police arrived and attempted to save Arguelles, but he died at the scene. Arguelles had served as an Alexander County Schools board member since 2022. District Superintendent Bill Griffin described him as an "amazing father, husband, and board member who has faithfully supported our school system for almost four years."