A tragic incident unfolded in North Carolina when a furniture manufacturer allegedly shot and killed his business partner following a legal setback in a contract disagreement. Willard Gary Black, aged 85, now faces charges of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of his business partner, Robert Roger Arguelles. The shooting reportedly took place at their co-owned business, the Old Hickory Tannery.
The conflict began earlier in the day when a court ruling required Black to compensate Arguelles with $310,882.74. This ruling followed a dispute over a business agreement, according to Court TV. In 2018, Black had sold 49.9% of his business stock to Arguelles but was accused of not fully repaying a $280,000 loan from Arguelles, with only $23,876.19 repaid.
The court records show that both parties had agreed to settle their lawsuit for the specified amount. However, Black later sought to retract his consent to the agreement. On Wednesday, a judge denied his request, reaffirming that Black needed to pay Arguelles the agreed sum.
Tragically, following this court decision, a confrontation ensued between the two men at their business location, resulting in the shooting. Police arrived on the scene and attempted to save Arguelles, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Arguelles had been serving as a member of the Alexander County Schools board since 2022. Superintendent Bill Griffin expressed his condolences, honoring Arguelles as a committed father, husband, and board member who had devotedly supported the school system. Griffin also emphasized the respect and privacy for Arguelles’ family during their time of profound loss.