On a summer evening in Princeton, West Virginia, a dispute over a mere $10 bet on a basketball game escalated into a fatal confrontation, claiming the life of 51-year-old Harold L. Ray Sr., a Black/African American male. The incident unfolded on June 13, 2021, at Ray's home on Maple Acres Road in the Glenwood area.
The disagreement began two days prior when Ray and Juan Tabb, 41, of Bluefield, made the small wager.
According to witnesses, Tabb, who had been drinking heavily, arrived at Ray's residence demanding his winnings after being unable to contact him. Despite pleas for him to leave, Tabb became increasingly agitated, allegedly threatening to shoot both Ray and his dog if he wasn't paid. The argument intensified, with Tabb reportedly brandishing a firearm.
The verbal altercation tragically culminated in gunfire. Both Ray and Tabb sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange and were transported to Princeton Community Hospital. Harold Ray succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Tabb was treated for his injuries and subsequently arrested on June 23, 2021. He was charged with first-degree murder and held without bond. In March 2022, a Mercer County grand jury indicted Tabb for the murder of Harold Ray.
