Expenses for Chris Pelkey

3/28/25 Update:

After 1,181 Chris’s murder trial is finally over and the shooter is finally in jail. The final

trial culminated yesterday. The Verdict is:

✅ Manslaughter

▶️ Findings: GUILTY

with decision for:

✅Dangerous finding

▶️ Findings: GUILTY

I am asking everyone who knew Chris to please submit a Victim’s Impact Statement. Even if it is super short! Let's flood the judge to help him understand Chris’s reach in this world. He only knows Chris from his autopsy picture. Let’s change that and bring him to life for the judge to care about.

1. Who: everyone who knew Chris is urged to email an impact statement (pictures encouraged!!).

2. When: Due April 23, 2025

3. Where: You can email your statement to our attorney: Jgattuso.voiceforvictims

at

gmail

dot

com

4. Why: Impact statements are read by the judge before he determines the sentencing on May 1, so your statement will have a direct impact on the punishment. This judge is empathetic to victims — which was NOT the case with the judge in the first trial.

5. Sentencing: the sentencing range is 7-10.5 years. Please ask for the max. Also, please ask that his sentence be stacked and served separate from the endangerment charge and NOT concurrently.

6. Tips: https://victimsforjustice.org/have-your-say/prepare-your-statement/

Also this:

VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT

The Victim Impact Statement is written and/or verbal. It allows the victim to provide information for the judge’s consideration at sentencing. It allows the victim to show the pain, anguish and financial devastation this crime has caused. The judge really does not know how truly affected the victim is unless the victim speaks up. When you give your statement, you may choose to be very brief – or you may decide to talk at length. You may have other family members join you in the providing the statement. Or, you may submit a letter to the judge prior to the sentencing for his/her consideration.

The Victim Impact Statement is the only time that you will have to address the one person – the judge- who can decide the fate of the defendant.

THIS IS YOUR TIME – USE IT!

Some items to consider when deciding what to say:

• The physical injuries sustained (in detail).

• The medical treatment required for any injuries

• The psychological impact of the crime on you, your family, and others

• The psychological treatment required

• Amount of time lost from work

• The effect on your lifestyle, level of functioning

• The effect on your family’s lifestyle, including your children

• Any lingering pain, anxiety, anguish and nightmares

• What sentence would you like the defendant to receive?

 

Our brother Christopher Pelkey, Army veteran who served 3 tours in the Middle East, died Saturday 11/13/21 in Chandler, Arizona. He was the victim of a road rage shooting while on his way home from a church softball game. The news report can be found here. Chris was a very humble man who charitably gave away more than he had. As his family, we are trying to pick up the pieces to take care of his expenses. If you would be willing to help us/our brother who gave so much, it would honor his legacy of selflessness and charity.

 

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UPDATE 11/16/2021

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Due to overwhelming response and outpouring of love for Chris around the country, we are holding 2 services for Chris so that all who loved him — on both coasts — can say goodbye to our beloved brother. 

 

Services for my brother Chris will be held on Saturday 11/20/2021 at 2 pm at The Grove church in Chandler, Arizona. ALL are welcome. It will be a Celebration of Life with a short service and then light refreshments and slideshows and fellowship.

 

-AND-

 

We will also be holding a second service on Saturday December 4th at my brother John’s church, Kirkland Life Church at 44 Kirkland Ave, Clinton, NY. 

All are welcome. 

 

His cremains will be interred amongst a family plot on December 7th (his birthday) at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in New York. 

 

He was too impactful to limit his services to just one coast. If either of those locations work for you, we would love to see you.

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UPDATE 12/3/21

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Here are the instructions for virtually viewing tomorrow’s memorial service in NY for Chris Pelkey at 2 pm EST 12/4/21:

1. Go to https://kirklandlife.church/livestream/

2. Scroll down on the page and click the button for: “Click Here for Live”

3. The video link will loads in a Facebook live stream when the service starts streaming at 1:55 pm on Sat 12/4/21

Note: If you are late or miss the live stream, the livestream will record and be posted after the service to view using the instructions above (in step 3, look on the page for “Past Live Videos” or under HOME (scroll down) under recent posts

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