In a groundbreaking moment in Arizona, artificial intelligence brought a man killed in a 2021 road rage incident back to life in court. Chris Pelkey, a 37-year-old Army veteran, was fatally shot by Gabriel Horcasitas at a red light in Chandler, Arizona, in March 2021. The shooting occurred after Pelkey exited his car and approached Horcasitas’s vehicle, leading to the fatal shot.
Over three years later, Pelkey’s likeness and voice were recreated through AI, allowing him to address his killer during a court hearing posthumously. The AI-generated video featured Pelkey speaking directly to Horcasitas, stating, “It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances… In another life, we probably could have been friends. I believe in forgiveness, and a God who forgives.” Pelkey appeared in the video wearing a grey baseball cap and a distinctive red-and-brown beard, delivering a powerful message of forgiveness.
Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, and her husband made this unique moment possible. They spent months gathering over 40 impact statements from loved ones and using Pelkey’s archived videos and audio to train an AI model to replicate his voice and expressions. Wales described the process as a “Frankenstein of love,” highlighting the emotional complexity of recreating her brother.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Todd Lang praised the AI-generated message, noting the genuine forgiveness Pelkey’s family conveyed despite their rightful anger. “I loved that AI, thank you for that,” said Judge Lang, who sentenced Horcasitas to ten and a half years for manslaughter. Chris’s brother, John Pelkey, also acknowledged the healing power of the tribute, sharing that it was a moment of emotional release for the family.
The use of AI in courtrooms marks a new chapter for the American justice system. The U.S. Judicial Conference’s advisory committee plans to seek public comment on the regulation of AI-generated content as legal evidence in the future.
