• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Man shot dead in road rage incident delivers message to killer in court four years later

Home> News> Crime

Updated 14:52 7 May 2025 GMT+1Published 14:53 7 May 2025 GMT+1

Man shot dead in road rage incident delivers message to killer in court four years later

Christopher Pelkey was killed by Gabriel Horcasitas during a driving altercation in 2021

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

A man who'd been shot dead appeared in an Arizona court last month to issue an eerie message from beyond the grave.

According to local news reports, courtroom attendees were shocked to see Christopher Pelkey - who was shot dead during a road rage altercation in 2021 - bear witness during the trial of the man that killed him.

Fifty-year-old Gabriel Horcasitas was arrested for Pelkey's death following the incident in Chandler, before being found guilty in court this week.

Advert

Prior to Horcasitas' sentencing, however, his victim issued him an emotional message with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

The family of Pelkey, who died aged just 37, played a video of him in court in what became the first victim impact statement to be delivered using AI technology - as per the New York Post.

The computer-generated clip of Pelkey heard the victim address his killer directly as part of a speech composed by his family, led by sister Stacey Wales. A previously recorded video of him was used to create the clip, as well as recordings of his voice and several images.

"To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me: it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances," the full courtroom of attendees heard the video declare.

Advert

"In another life, we probably could have been friends."

Pelkey's AI image - in which he could be seen wearing a grey baseball cap, paired with a green zipper hoodie - continued: "I believe in forgiveness and God who forgives. I always have, and still do."

Wales told press of her late brother's message: "I said, 'I have to let him speak,' and I wrote what he would have said, and I said, 'That’s pretty good, I’d like to hear that if I was the judge.'"

She continued: "I want the world to know Chris existed.

Advert

Pelkey's sister Stacey Wales wrote the statement the AI video 'read' in court (FOX 10)
Pelkey's sister Stacey Wales wrote the statement the AI video 'read' in court (FOX 10)

"If one person hears his name or sees this footage and goes to his Facebook page or looks him up on YouTube, they will hear Chris’s love.

"He stood for people, and for God, and for love."

Despite Pelkey's voice failing to align with the movement of his mouth in the image, members of the court were moved by the emotional sentiment - including Judge Todd Lang.

Advert

Prior to giving Horcasitas a 10 and a half year sentencing for fatally shooting Pelkey, the judge told attendees: "I love that AI."

Alongside the video, an AI-generated image was also used, showing how the victim would look if he'd been given the chance to live.

"This is the best I can ever give you of what I would have looked like if I got the chance to grow old," the clip explained.

"Remember, getting old is a gift that not everybody has, so embrace it and stop worrying about those wrinkles."

Featured Image Credit: FOX 10

Topics: Crime, US News, News, Artificial intelligence, Technology

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

X

@rhiannaBjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

12 hours ago
14 hours ago
  • Michael Ciaglo/Getty ImagesMichael Ciaglo/Getty Images
    12 hours ago

    FBI shares chilling messages written on bullets as Charlie Kirk assassination suspect's possible motive revealed

    Utah Governor Spencer Cox read out the various inscriptions in a press conference today (12 September)

    News
  • Eric Thayer/Getty ImagesEric Thayer/Getty Images
    12 hours ago

    Donald Trump issues update on Charlie Kirk's wife Erika as she is seen for the first time after his death

    Trump paid tribute to Kirk and shared the future wishes of Erika

    News
  • Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesKevin Dietsch/Getty Images
    14 hours ago

    Donald Trump fuels major concern after ‘frightening’ comment about DC mayor

    The American president's federal takeover of the Washington DC police force officially ended on Wednesday (10 September)

    News
  • Handout / FBIHandout / FBI
    14 hours ago

    Everything we know about Charlie Kirk's assassination suspect Tyler Robinson as mugshot revealed

    Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck at Utah Valley University on Wednesday (10 September)

    News
  • Melania Trump issues eerie robot warning in rare public appearance
  • What we know about Charlie Kirk as Trump's ally shot dead aged 31
  • Serial killer had final message for Donald Trump just moments before he was executed
  • Heartbreaking diary entry from 14-year-old boy about AI bot he 'formed relationship with' before taking own life