NEWTON, N.C. — Prosecutors say the man accused of killing his business partner at a Catawba County furniture company will not face the death penalty if convicted.
In June, 85-year-old Willard Black admitted to shooting Robert Arguelles inside the Old Hickory Tannery in Newton, according to court documents.
Just hours before the shooting, Channel 9 learned a judge had ordered Black to pay Arguelles more than $300,000 in relation to a business settlement reached between the two men earlier this year.
Court documents say the two sides agreed to Black selling his stock in the company at a dollar, but then the 85-year-old backed out of the deal. The court order required Black to follow through on all terms of the settlement. About four hours later, the shooting happened.
Black is next scheduled to appear in court in December.
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