On the evening of December 7, 2025, law enforcement officers in Greensboro, North Carolina, responded to a distress call at a residence located on the 700 block of West Terrell Street. Upon arriving at the scene around 7:30 p.m., police discovered 59-year-old Chris Ratliff inside the home suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Despite the rapid response of emergency personnel, the male victim was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene before he could be transported to a medical
facility.
The investigation at the residence quickly focused on a specific individual found at the location. Police identified the suspect as the victim's son, 20-year-old Pretance Joquann Ratliff. Officers detained the young man at the home without incident shortly after discovering his father's body. Authorities did not immediately release specific details regarding the motive or the events leading up to the shooting, but the case was promptly classified as a homicide.
Following his detention, Pretance Ratliff was formally arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death. He was processed and held in custody without bond. During his first court appearance the following day, Monday, December 8, a judge denied bond, ordering that he remain incarcerated while the legal proceedings moved forward. The case has since moved into the judicial system as detectives continue to document the circumstances of the fatal domestic incident.
