A fatal incident occurred at a North Carolina furniture manufacturer following a legal ruling. Willard Gary Black, aged 85, faces charges of second-degree murder. He allegedly shot his business partner, Robert Roger Arguelles, this week after a court decision went against him in a contract dispute, according to Queen City News.
The shooting took place at the Old Hickory Tannery, where Black and Arguelles co-owned the business. Earlier that day, court records indicate, Black was ordered to pay Arguelles $310,882.74 due to a contract disagreement. The dispute had roots back to 2018, when Black sold 49.9% of his business stock to Arguelles. Arguelles claimed to have lent Black $280,000, of which a paltry $23,876.19 had been repaid.
The men agreed to settle their lawsuit for the mentioned sum. However, Black attempted to rescind his consent after the paperwork was filed with the court. On Wednesday, a judge denied his request to withdraw consent and ordered him to pay Arguelles, who was 59 years old, the agreed amount.
A few hours later, tensions escalated into an argument at their business premises, leading to the shooting. Law enforcement arrived on the scene, providing aid to Arguelles, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Besides his business involvement, Arguelles served as a board member for Alexander County Schools since 2022. In a statement, District Superintendent Bill Griffin recognized Arguelles as a devoted father, husband, and board member. Griffin emphasized the importance of respecting the family’s privacy as they cope with their significant loss.