North Carolina Business Owner Charged After Fatal Shooting Of Co-Owner
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Old Hickory Tannery co-owner Willard Gary Black allegedly shot and killed his business partner, Robert Roger Arguelles, at the company's factory in North Carolina.[1]
Black has been charged with second-degree murder.[1] Authorities said Arguelles was shot in the chest and back and died at the scene.[1] Earlier that day, a judge ordered Black to pay Arguelles $310,882.74 to settle a contract dispute tied to a $280,000 loan.[1]
Black took over Old Hickory Tannery in 1979. In 2018 Black sold 49.9 percent of the company to RRA Solutions, owned by Arguelles, in exchange for a $280,000 loan. RRA Solutions sued Old Hickory Tannery and Black in November 2024 seeking repayment, interest and judicial dissolution. On March 30, 2026, a judge ordered Black to pay $310,882.74 and indicated dissolution would follow unless an acceptable buyout was reached. The parties reached a May 11, 2026 settlement under which Black would sell his shares for one dollar plus the repayment. Black later sought to withdraw consent, and on June 17 a Catawba County Superior Court judge ordered compliance.
Arguelles was 59 and had served on the Alexander County Schools board since 2022. Local posts said the judge set Black's bond at $2.5 million and that the shooting occurred inside the factory after a heated business dispute.
The mainstream summary does not fully capture the extent of the financial disputes between Black and Arguelles, which involved over $300,000 owed before the shooting, highlighting the gravity of their legal entanglements. Additionally, while it notes the judge's bond setting at $2.5 million, it does not mention that this figure was reported by local news sources, which adds a layer of community engagement to the story. Furthermore, the summary omits details about Arguelles' role as a dedicated member of the Alexander County Board of Education, which underscores his community involvement and the impact of his death beyond the business context. This broader perspective is crucial for understanding the human element of the tragedy, as local posts emphasize the victim's contributions to the community alongside the violent nature of the incident.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, co-owner Willard Gary Black allegedly shot and killed business partner Robert Roger Arguelles at Old Hickory Tannery in North Carolina.
- Black has been charged with second-degree murder after Arguelles was shot in the chest and back and died at the scene.
- Earlier the same day, a judge ordered Black to pay Arguelles $310,882.74 to settle a contract dispute over a $280,000 loan linked to a 2018 stock sale.
- Arguelles, 59, had served as an Alexander County Schools board member since 2022.
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