Leroy Mcgill executed in Arizona by lethal injection at 63

Arizona executed leroy mcgill by lethal injection on May 20, 2026, at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, ending the case of the 63-year-old prisoner at 10:26 a.m. PDT. The state used pentobarbital, and John Barcello said, "Today’s process went according to plan."

Florence execution

McGill was pronounced dead after one attempt on each arm was enough to insert IVs successfully. That stood in contrast to Arizona’s criticism over difficulty inserting IV lines during executions in 2022.

Barcello, the deputy director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, quoted McGill’s last words as, "I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice." A media witness heard him say, "I’m going home soon."

Charles Perez case

McGill had been convicted of murder in the death of Charles Perez, who was attacked with his girlfriend, Nova Banta, in a north Phoenix apartment on July 13, 2002. Authorities said McGill threw gasoline at Perez and Banta and set them on fire.

The execution was Arizona’s first lethal injection carried out in 2026. Kris Mayes said after the execution that "their thoughts were with the victims."

Arizona prison complex

Sean Rice, a media witness, said he did not see any issue finding a vein on either arm. The execution closed a case that began with the apartment attack nearly 24 years earlier and ended with McGill’s death at the Florence prison complex.

For readers tracking the case, the immediate procedural step is over: Arizona has now carried out its first lethal injection of the year, and the record from Florence shows the IV placement worked on both arms without a repeat attempt.