The state of Arizona carried out its first execution of the year on Wednesday, administering a lethal injection to 63-year-old Leroy Dean McGill at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. McGill was convicted for the July 2002 murder of Charles Perez and the attempted murder of Nova Banta, whom he doused with gasoline and set ablaze following an accusation that he had stolen a gun.
Details of the Crime and Trial
During his trial in October 2004, the jury took less than an hour to find McGill guilty of murder, attempted murder, arson, and endangerment. Despite his legal team presenting evidence of childhood abuse and mental impairment, the jury returned a death sentence. McGill's recent appeals for resentencing were rejected by a lower-court judge and the Arizona Supreme Court. He also waived his right to seek clemency, thereby clearing the path for his execution.
Execution Protocol and Context
Arizona's current execution method involves administering two syringes of the sedative pentobarbital. The state last carried out a death sentence in 2025 and currently has 109 inmates on death row. This execution is the first of three scheduled across the United States this week.
