Christopher "Chris" Partlow is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe.

Although a ruthless killer, he shows genuine care towards the soldiers under his command, especially Michael Lee, whom he takes under his wing as a protégé.

When Stringer Bell is murdered (by Omar Little and Brother Mouzone), Chris and Felicia "Snoop" Pearson are assumed to be responsible and they do nothing to dispel these rumors.

The turf war comes to an end when Stringer's death and Avon's arrest lead to the demise of the Barksdale Organization, and Stanfield assumes control of most of the drug trade in Western Baltimore.

Chris suggests caution after Stanfield drug dealer Fruit is slain, recommending they execute the offender rather than all the members of the independent narcotics team he works with.

When he confronts Devar, Chris questions him about molesting little boys and asks him about any past homosexual activity in prison.

The viciousness and fury he unleashes upon Devar is in stark contrast to the business-like way in which he usually kills people; it is implied that Chris, too, may have been sexually abused as a child (it was confirmed by series creator David Simon during a DVD audio commentary that both Michael and Chris were victims of childhood sexual abuse).

Eventually, the police are able to demonstrate not only that Chris (and thus Marlo) is responsible for the chain of disappearances in West Baltimore, but also that they have been disposing of the bodies in row houses all over town.

In the meantime, the police are unable to gather enough evidence to file charges on the vacant house murders related to Chris and Snoop, and begin a prolonged surveillance operation into the Stanfield Organization.

Upon concluding those issues, Marlo begins to scheme against the co-op, plotting against "Proposition Joe" Stewart by gathering information on his suppliers, so that he can establish his own connection to them and cut out the rest of the Baltimore crews and dealers who are dependent on the high quality supply of drugs sold by The Greek.

[4][5] While Marlo conspires to wholesale drugs, the Major Case Unit is shut down as part of Mayor Carcetti's cutbacks on public spending, including policing.

They then brutally torture Butchie with multiple gunshot wounds and other assaults, while force feeding him alcohol to subdue the pain.

[10] As Marlo meets with Spiros Vondas in a city park, Chris and a Greek enforcer watch over the area.

After the meeting, Marlo tells Chris how good it feels to be wearing the crown and suggests a celebratory trip to Atlantic City.

When Omar later attacks Monk's apartment, he walks into a trap: Chris, Michael, Snoop, and O-Dog are lying in wait.

When the police bust a narcotics resupply transaction from The Greeks, Chris is charged with murder, preventing his release on bail.

Levy represents Chris and Stanfield, and suspects an illegal wiretap due to the speed with which charging documents were produced.

Part of this deal involves Chris's pleading guilty not only to murdering Michael's stepfather Devar, but also to all of the bodies found in the vacant buildings, charges which yield a sentence of life without parole.

Chris willingly takes the life sentence for the Stanfield organization on the condition that his girlfriend and children are taken care of financially.

Chris is briefly seen during the end-of-season montage conversing amicably with Wee-Bey Brice in the courtyard of the Maryland State prison; they are in a similar situation, both having been primary enforcers for West Baltimore kingpins and now are serving life sentences for committing murders (and taking sole responsibility for some murders they did not commit), at the behest of their respective bosses, all in service of protecting their families and their organizations.