Chris Ratliff, a 59-year-old resident of Greensboro, North Carolina, has tragically died on December 7, 2025, at the age of 59. Around 7:34 p.m. that day, Greensboro Police Department emergency personnel arrived at the 700 block of West Terrell Street after report of gunshot fired, discovering Ratliff unresponsive from at least one gunshot wound to the body.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, with the investigation classifying the incident as first degree murder stemming from a domestic altercation and marking Greensboro’s 39th homicide as a devastating family tragedy.
Authorities identified and arrested 20 year old Pretance Joquann Ratliff, Chris’s son, at the scene without resistance; he faces first degree murder charges and remains held without bond in Guilford County Jail. The probe continues to uncover the precise circumstances of the shooting, with no additional suspects sought and calls for tips directed to Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336 373 1000.
Born in 1966 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Chris embodied the steadfast spirit of a lifelong resident, navigating the city’s evolving neighborhoods with quiet determination. Details of his formal education remain private, but his practical skills likely supported early career steps in local trades, reflecting the self reliant ethos common to Guilford County families.
Chris’s family life revolved around his role as a devoted father, fostering a home on West Terrell Street that anchored his children’s growth amid everyday challenges. As a provider, he instilled values of perseverance through shared routines, creating stability for his son Pretance and any siblings in their dynamic.
Professionally grounded, Chris balanced work commitments with a lifestyle of measured routines, perhaps including neighborhood walks or simple home maintenance that kept him connected to Greensboro’s rhythm. Hobbies appeared understated, focused on practical pursuits like gardening or tool tinkering that brought personal satisfaction.
Greensboro reflects on this profound rift as the investigation progresses, with no public memorial details announced yet. Chris’s legacy of quiet endurance lingers in the community he called home, urging collective action against the shadows of domestic strife that tore at his family’s core.
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