Arizona Executes Leroy McGill For 2002 Gasoline Fire Murder
Arizona executed Leroy Dean McGill by lethal injection at the state prison in Florence on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, for the 2002 gasoline dousing and fire that killed James Perez.[1]
He was pronounced dead at 12:26 p.m. Central after receiving a single dose of pentobarbital, and witnesses reported no IV-access problems during the execution.[1] Officials said this execution was the first of three scheduled in the United States during the week of May 18-24, 2026.[1]
In a Phoenix attack in 2002, McGill doused James Perez and Nova Banta with gasoline; Perez died and Banta survived with third-degree burns.[1] A jury in October 2004 convicted McGill of first-degree murder, attempted murder, arson and endangerment.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Arizona executed Leroy Dean McGill by lethal injection at the state prison in Florence.
- McGill was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. PDT after receiving pentobarbital, with witnesses reporting no IV access problems.
- He was convicted of dousing James Perez and Nova Banta with gasoline in a 2002 Phoenix attack; Perez died and Banta survived with third-degree burns.
- A jury in October 2004 found McGill guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, arson and endangerment.
- This is the first of three executions scheduled in the U.S. during the week of May 18–24, 2026.
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