Additional Coverage:
- Arizona executes man who killed victim by dousing him in gasoline and setting him on fire in 2002 attack (foxnews.com)
An Arizona man convicted of a brutal 2002 murder was executed Wednesday, becoming the first of three scheduled executions in the U.S. this week. Leroy Dean McGill, 53, was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. PDT after receiving a lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence.
McGill was found guilty of killing James Perez by setting him on fire after dousing him and Perez’s girlfriend, Nova Banta, with gasoline during an attack at a north Phoenix apartment. While Banta survived, Perez succumbed to his injuries. Prosecutors noted that McGill had been using methamphetamine and was sleep-deprived at the time.
Witnesses at the execution described McGill as calm and composed. Before the procedure, he smiled, nodded at observers, and said, “I’m going home soon.” After receiving the sedative pentobarbital, he exhibited heavy breathing and a snoring-like sound before being declared dead 21 minutes later.
The execution proceeded without incident, a marked improvement after Arizona faced criticism in 2022 for complications during another inmate’s lethal injection. Sean Rice, a media witness from Phoenix’s KPNX, confirmed that officials had no trouble finding a vein and noted a slight twitch on McGill’s head shortly before his death.
Arizona Department of Corrections Deputy Director John Barcello stated the process went “according to plan,” sharing that McGill’s final words were a thank you to those present. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes expressed sympathy for the victims’ families following the execution.
During the original trial, Banta testified that McGill warned them not to “talk behind people’s backs” moments before the attack. After being set ablaze, both victims fled the apartment; another resident helped extinguish the flames engulfing Banta, who suffered third-degree burns over much of her body. Perez later died in the hospital due to his severe injuries.
In October 2004, a jury convicted McGill of first-degree murder, attempted murder, arson, and endangerment related to the fire spreading to neighboring units. Despite defense pleas citing McGill’s troubled childhood and mental health issues, the jury sentenced him to death.
Efforts to halt the execution earlier this year failed when a lower court and the Arizona Supreme Court declined to delay the process. McGill waived his right to clemency and declined to give an interview.
This marks the 12th execution in the U.S. this year. Arizona previously carried out executions in 2025 after resuming the practice in 2022 following an eight-year hiatus prompted by difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs and scrutiny over a problematic 2014 execution.
Arizona’s current protocol uses pentobarbital administered via two syringes. Following McGill’s execution, 108 inmates remain on the state’s death row. Executions are also scheduled this week in Tennessee and Florida.