A North Carolina furniture manufacturer allegedly shot and killed his business partner this week after a court ruled against him in a contract dispute.

Willard Gary Black, 85, has been charged with second-degree murder in the Wednesday fatal shooting of Robert Roger Arguelles, who was struck in the chest and back, Queen City News reported.

The shooting happened at the Old Hickory Tannery, where Arguelles and Black were co-owners of the business.

Court records show that earlier that day, Black was ordered to pay Arguelles $310,882.74 after a contract dispute between the two men, Court TV reported.

In 2018, Black sold Arguelles 49.9% of the stock in his business. However, Arguelles said he had loaned Black $280,000, of which only $23,876.19 was ever repaid, the news outlet reported.

Both men reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit for $310,882.74, but after filing the paperwork with the court, Black sought to withdraw his consent.

On Wednesday, a judge denied his request and ordered Black to pay Arguelles, 59, the amount of the original agreement.

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