Arizona Executes Man Convicted of Setting Victim on Fire in 2002 Phoenix Attack
Why It Matters
The execution marks Arizona’s continued use of capital punishment for violent crimes, part of a broader national trend that has seen executions carried out across multiple states in 2026. The case drew attention both for the brutality of the original crime and for questions that had lingered over Arizona’s execution procedures in recent years.
What Happened
Leroy Dean McGill, 63, was put to death Wednesday morning at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. PDT following a lethal injection of pentobarbital. He had been convicted of murdering Charles Perez in a July 2002 attack at a north Phoenix apartment.
According to authorities, McGill doused Perez and Perez’s girlfriend, Nova Banta, with gasoline and ignited them as they sat on a sofa. The attack followed accusations that McGill had stolen a gun from the apartment. At the time, McGill had been using methamphetamine and had not slept for several days, according to court records. Banta survived but suffered severe third-degree burns over most of her body. Perez later died at a hospital in extreme pain.
A jury convicted McGill of murder, attempted murder, arson, and additional endangerment charges in October 2004, deliberating for less than an hour before reaching a verdict. Jurors sentenced him to death after hearing about the circumstances of the crime.
Final Moments
McGill’s demeanor during the execution was reportedly calm. Before the lethal injection began, he looked toward witnesses, smiled, and nodded. His last recorded words, relayed by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, were: “I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice.” A media witness also reported hearing McGill say, “I’m going home soon.”
The procedure lasted approximately 21 minutes from the start of IV insertion to the time of death. Department deputy director John Barcello stated, “Today’s process went according to plan.” Media witnesses confirmed they observed no complications, a notable contrast to past Arizona executions that drew scrutiny.
By the Numbers
- McGill was 63 years old at the time of his execution on May 21, 2026.
- The crime occurred on July 13, 2002 — more than two decades before his execution date.
- Twelve prisoners have been executed across the United States so far in 2026, all by lethal injection.
- Arizona now has 108 prisoners remaining on death row following McGill’s execution.
- The entire lethal injection process was completed in approximately 21 minutes.
Legal Challenges and History
McGill’s legal team made several last-minute efforts to block or delay the execution, including a bid for resentencing that a lower court rejected, and a request to the Arizona Supreme Court to postpone the proceedings — which the court declined. McGill also waived his right to seek clemency and declined interview requests prior to his death.
His attorneys had argued in mitigation that he endured childhood abuse and suffered from mental impairment and psychological immaturity, but those arguments did not sway the jury at sentencing.
Arizona’s execution record has been turbulent in recent years. The state faced significant criticism after a 2014 execution in which an inmate received 15 doses of a two-drug combination over two hours before dying — a case widely regarded as a botched procedure. The state subsequently halted executions for nearly eight years before resuming them in 2022. The current protocol uses two syringes of pentobarbital.
Zoom Out
McGill’s execution was the first of three scheduled in the U.S. this week, with Tennessee and Florida each set to carry out an execution the following day. The steady pace of executions in 2026 reflects a renewed willingness among states to move forward with capital punishment after years of legal delays and drug-supply challenges.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose office had pressed for the execution, said her thoughts were with the victims following McGill’s death. Courts have been central to capital punishment debates nationally — recent judicial conduct controversies have raised broader questions about the integrity of the legal system as states continue to carry out sentences.
What’s Next
With executions also scheduled in Tennessee and Florida, the pace of capital punishment enforcement in the U.S. is set to continue in the near term. Arizona’s remaining 108 death row inmates will continue pursuing their own legal proceedings, with future execution dates subject to court rulings and state scheduling decisions.
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