Police charged an 85-year-old business partner after Robert Arguelles was shot at Old Hickory Tannery.
NEWTON, NC — An 85-year-old Hickory man was charged with second-degree murder after police said he shot and killed his business partner Wednesday afternoon inside a Newton furniture company where more than a dozen employees were working.
The killing drew attention beyond Catawba County because the victim, 59-year-old Robert Roger Arguelles of Taylorsville, was a member of the Alexander County Board of Education. Police identified the suspect as Willard Gary Black, a longtime figure at Old Hickory Tannery, and said the shooting followed an altercation at the Locust Street business. Court records reviewed by local reporters showed Black had been ordered earlier that day to follow terms of a business settlement involving more than $300,000.
Newton police said officers were called to Old Hickory Tannery around 3:18 p.m. Wednesday and found Arguelles in an office area with gunshot wounds to his chest and back. Officers and emergency workers began life-saving efforts, but Arguelles died at the scene. Police said Black was detained there, and investigators recovered a weapon. Prosecutors later said in court that when officers arrived at the furniture plant, the owner said, “I shot that guy.” Authorities said the recovered weapon was a .38-caliber revolver.
The shooting happened inside a business known for custom furniture and design work. Police said the early investigation showed Black and Arguelles had an altercation before Black shot him. WSOC-TV reported that more than a dozen employees were inside the office area at the time. Police have not released a full account of what was said before the shooting, how long the altercation lasted or whether any employee tried to intervene. No other injuries were reported. Black was taken into custody and later made his first court appearance Thursday morning.
The case followed a bitter business dispute at Old Hickory Tannery. Court documents reported by WSOC-TV said a judge had ruled earlier this year on the judicial dissolution of the company while allowing Arguelles the right to make an acceptable offer to Black. The documents said the sides had agreed that Black would sell his stock for $1, but Black later backed out. A court order entered Wednesday required Black to follow through on the settlement terms. About four hours later, police said, Arguelles was shot at the business.
Black appeared in court Thursday in a wheelchair as relatives and friends of both men watched. He was given a $2.5 million bond and would be placed on house arrest if he posted it, according to reports from the hearing. He faces a second-degree murder charge, and the investigation remains active. Authorities have not said whether additional charges are being reviewed. Police said the case remains in the hands of Newton investigators, with evidence from the scene and witness statements expected to shape the next steps.
Arguelles’ death also left a vacancy and grief in Alexander County Schools, where he represented District 1 on the school board. Superintendent Bill Griffin said Arguelles had supported the school system for nearly four years. “He was an amazing father, husband, and board member who has faithfully supported our school system,” Griffin said in a district statement. School Board Chairman Josh Dagenhart told WSOC-TV that Arguelles shared his wisdom through a servant’s heart and said the district would not be the same without him.
Friends described Arguelles as kind and devoted to his family and community. Katherine Lebo, a friend of the victim, said those close to him were stunned by the killing. “We are still in shock,” Lebo said. “He was an amazing person. A kind-hearted man. A loving husband and a father.” At Old Hickory Tannery, the shooting left police tape, patrol vehicles and unanswered questions outside a workplace where the dispute between two business partners had moved from court records to a homicide investigation.
Black remained charged with second-degree murder as of Friday, June 19, and the Newton Police Department’s investigation was ongoing. The next major step is expected to come through court filings or another hearing in Catawba County.
Author note: Last updated June 19, 2026.