A North Carolina furniture maker is accused of fatally shooting his business partner this week, shortly after a court decision went against him in a contract dispute.
Willard Gary Black, 85, faces a second-degree murder charge in Wednesday’s deadly shooting of Robert Roger Arguelles, who was hit in the chest and back, according to Queen City News.
Authorities said the shooting took place at Old Hickory Tannery, a business co-owned by Arguelles and Black.
Court documents indicate that, earlier the same day, Black had been ordered to pay Arguelles $310,882.74 following a contract dispute between the two, Court TV reported.
The dispute dated back to 2018, when Black sold Arguelles a 49.9% stake in the company. Arguelles later claimed he had loaned Black $280,000 and that only $23,876.19 had been repaid, the outlet reported.
The two men had agreed to resolve the lawsuit for $310,882.74, but after the settlement paperwork was filed with the court, Black attempted to revoke his consent.
On Wednesday, a judge denied his request and ordered Black to pay Arguelles, 59, the amount of the original agreement.
Hours later, both men got into an argument at the business, which led to the shooting, authorities said. Police officers arrived and attempted to save Arguelles, who died at the scene.
Arguelles had served as an Alexander County Schools board member since 2022.
In a statement, District Superintendent Bill Griffin described Arguelles as an “amazing father, husband, and board member who has faithfully supported our school system for almost four years.”
“In honor of his memory, our district fully supports and respects the family’s privacy as they navigate this profound loss,” he added.
