'I shot that guy'
Man charged with murder of business partner, who was on local school board
Willard Gary Black sits in a wheelchair during his first appearance in Catawba County District Court on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Robert Arguelles.
Catawba County Chief Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gould walks into Catawba County District Court on Thursday for the first appearance of Willard Black.
The owner of Old Hickory Tannery, who is accused of shooting and killing a man who was his business partner and an Alexander County school board member, received a $2.5 million secured bond in Catawba County District Court.
Willard Gary Black, 85, of Hickory, was escorted into the courtroom in a wheelchair for his first court appearance on Thursday. Black wore a faded striped jumpsuit with shackles around his wrists.
Black is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 59-year old Robert Roger Arguelles on Wednesday, according to court documents. Black is the owner and founder of Old Hickory Tannery. Arguelles was a partner in the business.
Catawba County Chief Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gould said the shooting stemmed from a business dispute. Arguelles loaned Black money that was never paid back. In a civil lawsuit, Black was ordered to turn the Old Hickory Tannery over to Arguelles. The lawsuit said Black owed Arguelles more than $300,000.
Arguelles' family filled the two front rows on the right side of the courtroom. His family members held hands as they cried while Gould described the sequence of events leading up to Arguelles' death.
Gould said Arguelles went to the Old Hickory Tannery on Wednesday afternoon, spoke with some employees and met with Black in an office.
Gould said while in the office, Black pulled out a .38 revolver. Black shot Arguelles in the chest, Gould said. Arguelles then tried to run down a hallway. As Arguelles ran down the hall, four more shots were fired. Arguelles was hit in the back as well, Gould said.
Arguelles went into another office where an employee was and said, "He shot me," according to Gould's statements in court.
Newton police officers were called to the Old Hickory Tannery located at 970 Locust St. around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Arguelles died at the scene, Newton Police Department Chief Mark Beal said in a news release.
Gould said police officers spoke to Black at the scene. The officers asked Black if he was shot and Black responded, "No, I shot that guy," according to Gould.
"The victim (Arguelles) wasn't assaulting this individual (Black) and wasn't any kind of threat," Gould said. "Mr. Black decided to shoot him (Arguelles) and he did."
Black was represented in court by defense attorney Ed Hedrick from Alexander County. Black's family sat in the second to last bench on the left side.
Hedrick requested a $250,000 secured bond. Gould requested Black be held under no bond. Silence fell over the room as the judge considered the statements made by both attorneys. The only sound was muffled sobs from Arguelles' family members.
"(Arguelles) is the only person Mr. Black had a strong strife with, certainly in my memory of working with him, and his family," Hedrick said. "Your honor, I would contend that based on that, he's certainly not a danger to the community."
The judge ordered Black be held in jail under a $2.5 million secured bond. If the bond is paid, Black would be confined to his home with an ankle monitor. Black is forbidden from contacting Arguelles' family or being on the Old Hickory Tannery property.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Catawba County District Court on July 9. Gould said the district attorney's office intends to indict Black on unspecified murder.
Black is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sarah Johnson is the courts and breaking news reporter for the Hickory Daily Record.
