Arizona executed Leroy McGill, 63, by lethal injection on Wednesday, May 20, for the 2002 murder of Charles Perez. McGill set Perez and his girlfriend, Nova Banta, on fire after they accused him of theft. Perez died the next day, while Banta survived with severe burns. McGill was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. PT after receiving the injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence.
McGill’s last words included, "I’m going home soon," as he lay strapped to the execution chair. The execution was the 13th in the U.S. this year and the first in Arizona in 2026. Two more executions are scheduled this week in Tennessee and Florida.
Background of the Crime
On July 13, 2002, McGill entered the Phoenix apartment of Perez and Banta. He threw gasoline mixed with Styrofoam—allegedly to create a "napalm-like substance"—and set them on fire. Prosecutors stated McGill was under the influence of methamphetamine and had gone days without sleep. McGill denied the napalm allegations, but prosecutors argued the substance was designed to maximize pain. The attack occurred after the couple accused McGill of stealing a shotgun.
Execution Process
Witnesses reported McGill appeared calm and did not resist. After receiving pentobarbital, he began breathing heavily and made snoring sounds before being pronounced dead 21 minutes later. Arizona faced criticism in 2022 for struggles with IV insertion during another execution, but this procedure was described as smooth.
Reactions
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stated, "What Leroy McGill did was among the cruelest acts imaginable." She expressed hope the execution would bring peace to Perez’s family and Banta, who has lived with physical and emotional scars for nearly 24 years.