LONGVIEW, Texas — For eight years, friends and family of Ron Horaney were left with questions as to who could have killed the prominent East Texas businessman in 2016.
A lot of those questions were answered with two arrests made this week.
According to the Gregg County Sheriff's Office, Reza Kamali, 87, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the murder of Ron Horaney.
Horaney, who was 54 when he was killed, was also the cousin of Longview Mayor Andy Mack. Officials say Kamali's arrest was part of a murder-for-hire plot.
According to the arrest affidavit, Kamali hired Alfredo Lizcano, 38, of Longview, to kill Horaney because of a family dispute.
"Ronnie was a fun-loving man; he was dedicated to his family," former classmate and longtime friend Daryl Atkinson said.
"Ronnie" was the nickname given to Horaney by Atkinson. He said they grew up together and had a close friendship.
"We’re masonic brothers. We’re Shriner brothers," Atkinson said.
Atkinson still remembers the day he got the call that his friend had been killed.
"(It was) very somber. A lot of community people there, a lot of family and of course all his children," Atkinson said.
Harvest Festival Livestock Show board member Shannon Fell also remembers the day she heard the news. Her parents lived just a mile away from the Horaneys.
"I was shocked. Anybody that you know for one and then you’re in the area – just shock," Fell said.
Fell served alongside Horaney as board member in the Harvest Festival Livestock show. He sat on the finance and scholarship committee in his time there.
"He was always helpful. Anything the kids needed, supplies, feed that kind of stuff which I know that was his businesses," Fell said.
Horney’s Feed Store is a staple in the Longview community, which is why his murder still comes as a shock to many.
"You don’t believe it and you try to rationalize it. What happened, what didn’t happen. Who did it, who didn’t do it. What’s going on here," Atkinson said.
In court Wednesday afternoon, prosecutors said they believe Horaney's death was part of a murder for hire plot. Family and friends hope this new development will bring some sort of closure moving forward.
Friends and family hope this will bring some sort of closure moving forward.
"Now they (Horaney family) have answers, they can have a conclusion to what has happened and hopefully that can put Ronnie to rest," Atkinson said.
CBS19 was able to speak to Horaney’s mother, Betty, over the phone. She said she wants to thank investigators for all the work done in getting justice for her son.