Topline: Arizona executed Leroy Dean McGill for the 2002 killing of Charles Perez, who prosecutors said was set on fire inside a Phoenix apartment.
Published: May 22, 2026 7:21 am ET
Shawn Fletcher
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Arizona carried out its first execution of the year after a condemned inmate spent more than two decades on death row for a killing prosecutors described as especially cruel.
FLORENCE, Ariz. — Arizona prison officials said the state executed 63-year-old Leroy Dean McGill on Wednesday for the 2002 killing of Charles Perez, a man prosecutors said McGill doused in gasoline before setting him on fire inside a North Phoenix apartment.
According to WFTV, McGill received a lethal injection of pentobarbital at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence and was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. Mountain Time. Prison officials said it was Arizona’s first execution of 2026 after the state executed one inmate in 2025 and two in 2023.
McGill had been on death row since he was convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, arson and endangerment in the July 13, 2002 attack. Court records said McGill threw gasoline on Perez and Perez’s girlfriend, Nova Banta, while they were sitting on a couch. Authorities said Perez died, Banta survived with severe burns, and three other people escaped the fire.
According to court documents cited in the report, Perez and Banta had accused McGill of stealing a gun from the apartment before the attack. The records also said McGill had been using methamphetamine and had not slept for several days at the time.
Arizona Department of Corrections officials said McGill’s final meal included onion rings, bread and butter, chocolate cake and a green salad. His last words were, “I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice.” Prison officials said the execution proceeded according to plan.
At sentencing, jurors found that McGill knowingly created a grave risk of death to others besides the victim and that the offenses were committed in an especially cruel and especially heinous or depraved manner. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said after the execution that justice had finally been served for Perez and for the woman who survived the attack, adding that the survivor had carried the physical and emotional scars of that night for nearly 24 years.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Arizona Executes Man Convicted of Setting Victim on Fire in 2002 Killing
Arizona executed Leroy Dean McGill for the 2002 killing of Charles Perez, who prosecutors said was set on fire inside a Phoenix apartment.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: May 22, 2026 7:21 am ET
Arizona carried out its first execution of the year after a condemned inmate spent more than two decades on death row for a killing prosecutors described as especially cruel.
FLORENCE, Ariz. — Arizona prison officials said the state executed 63-year-old Leroy Dean McGill on Wednesday for the 2002 killing of Charles Perez, a man prosecutors said McGill doused in gasoline before setting him on fire inside a North Phoenix apartment.
According to WFTV, McGill received a lethal injection of pentobarbital at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence and was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. Mountain Time. Prison officials said it was Arizona’s first execution of 2026 after the state executed one inmate in 2025 and two in 2023.
McGill had been on death row since he was convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, arson and endangerment in the July 13, 2002 attack. Court records said McGill threw gasoline on Perez and Perez’s girlfriend, Nova Banta, while they were sitting on a couch. Authorities said Perez died, Banta survived with severe burns, and three other people escaped the fire.
According to court documents cited in the report, Perez and Banta had accused McGill of stealing a gun from the apartment before the attack. The records also said McGill had been using methamphetamine and had not slept for several days at the time.
Arizona Department of Corrections officials said McGill’s final meal included onion rings, bread and butter, chocolate cake and a green salad. His last words were, “I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice.” Prison officials said the execution proceeded according to plan.
At sentencing, jurors found that McGill knowingly created a grave risk of death to others besides the victim and that the offenses were committed in an especially cruel and especially heinous or depraved manner. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said after the execution that justice had finally been served for Perez and for the woman who survived the attack, adding that the survivor had carried the physical and emotional scars of that night for nearly 24 years.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Arizona Executes Man Convicted of Setting Victim on Fire in 2002 Killing
Arizona executed Leroy Dean McGill for the 2002 killing of Charles Perez, who prosecutors said was set on fire inside a Phoenix apartment.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: May 22, 2026 7:21 am ET
Arizona carried out its first execution of the year after a condemned inmate spent more than two decades on death row for a killing prosecutors described as especially cruel.
FLORENCE, Ariz. — Arizona prison officials said the state executed 63-year-old Leroy Dean McGill on Wednesday for the 2002 killing of Charles Perez, a man prosecutors said McGill doused in gasoline before setting him on fire inside a North Phoenix apartment.
According to WFTV, McGill received a lethal injection of pentobarbital at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence and was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. Mountain Time. Prison officials said it was Arizona’s first execution of 2026 after the state executed one inmate in 2025 and two in 2023.
McGill had been on death row since he was convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, arson and endangerment in the July 13, 2002 attack. Court records said McGill threw gasoline on Perez and Perez’s girlfriend, Nova Banta, while they were sitting on a couch. Authorities said Perez died, Banta survived with severe burns, and three other people escaped the fire.
According to court documents cited in the report, Perez and Banta had accused McGill of stealing a gun from the apartment before the attack. The records also said McGill had been using methamphetamine and had not slept for several days at the time.
Arizona Department of Corrections officials said McGill’s final meal included onion rings, bread and butter, chocolate cake and a green salad. His last words were, “I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice.” Prison officials said the execution proceeded according to plan.
At sentencing, jurors found that McGill knowingly created a grave risk of death to others besides the victim and that the offenses were committed in an especially cruel and especially heinous or depraved manner. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said after the execution that justice had finally been served for Perez and for the woman who survived the attack, adding that the survivor had carried the physical and emotional scars of that night for nearly 24 years.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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