An Arizona convicted felon, Leroy Dean McGill, was executed on May 20, 2026. He was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. after he was given a lethal injection. McGill was convicted of setting a couple on fire by pouring a mix of gasoline on them in a Phoenix apartment.
The man, Charles Perez, did not survive, while his girlfriend suffered from severe burns. This happened in 2002, and the prosecutors labeled it as a cruel attack. They also revealed that he stole a gun before attacking the couple. In 2021, McGill’s appeal was rejected by a three-judge panel.
Arizona executes man who killed victim by dousing him in gasoline and setting him on fire in 2002 attack https://t.co/OV3mb7MfEZ #FoxNews
— MATT (@MATTHILGER1) May 21, 2026
The execution of the 63-year-old felon makes it the first one in Arizona this year. According to AP journalist Josh Kelety, McGill’s final words were, “I’m going home soon.” He also revealed the details of the execution process, adding that the whole ordeal was smooth. He noted, “At 10:13, I observed deep breaths. At 10:13, he made what sounded like a snoring sound. At 10:13, the second green went in, and at 10:14, the snoring sound went silent.”
McGill’s death row meal was “onion rings, bread and butter, chocolate cake, cottage pie, and a green salad.” Besides, he had a spiritual advisor in the room during the execution process.
Arizona Department of Corrections Deputy Director John Marcello said in a press conference, “Today, by order of the Arizona Supreme Court, the state of Arizona carried out the death sentence of Leroy McGill by means of lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex here in Florence.”
Leroy Dean McGill, who was convicted of killing a man by setting him on fire, is set to be put to death today at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence.https://t.co/pDluId6vwt
— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) May 20, 2026
On the day of the crime, McGill had an altercation with the couple. According to court documents, McGill had returned to the apartment to teach Perez a lesson after their earlier disagreement. Before dousing them in gasoline, he told them, “not to talk behind people’s backs.” He had also mixed styrofoam in the gasoline to create a sticky substance.
Perez did not survive after the incident, while his girlfriend, Nova Banta, got third-degree burns. 75% of her body was covered in burns. Third person Jack Yates was unharmed and also helped Banta to get out of the apartment.
