Arizona Supreme Court sets May 20 execution date for man convicted in 2002 Phoenix gasoline attack

Execution warrant issued in long-running capital case

The Arizona Supreme Court has scheduled the execution of Leroy Dean McGill, 63, for May 20, 2026, after issuing a warrant in a case stemming from a 2002 arson attack in north Phoenix that killed one man and severely injured another victim.

The warrant sets up what is expected to be Arizona’s first execution in 2026, as the state continues carrying out death sentences after a period of renewed scrutiny over lethal injection procedures and scheduling.

What the jury found in the 2002 Phoenix attack

McGill was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Charles Perez. Prosecutors argued that in July 2002, McGill entered an apartment where Perez and Nova Banta were seated on a sofa, threw gasoline on them, and ignited it with a lit match. Perez died from the attack. Banta survived but sustained extensive third-degree burns.

At trial, Banta identified McGill as the attacker. The case also involved evidence that the fire endangered other residents, forcing people to flee as flames spread within the apartment complex.

• Victim killed: Charles Perez
• Surviving victim: Nova Banta, who suffered severe burns
• Location: apartment in north Phoenix
• Alleged motive presented at trial: a dispute after McGill was accused of stealing a gun from the apartment

Convictions and sentence

A Maricopa County jury convicted McGill in 2004. Court records reflect convictions not only for murder but also for attempted murder, arson and endangerment related to the broader risk created by the fire. Jurors deliberated for less than an hour before returning guilty verdicts on the core charges.

McGill was sentenced to death for the murder conviction. The warrant issued this week authorizes the state to carry out that sentence on May 20.

How execution dates are set in Arizona

In Arizona, execution scheduling is driven by court-issued warrants after specified appellate and post-conviction proceedings are completed. The process can involve additional litigation tied to method-of-execution questions, prison procedures and timelines for required filings. The May 20 date reflects the Supreme Court’s current schedule for the case.

The scheduled date does not end the legal process; additional court filings can still be pursued ahead of an execution.

What happens next

With the warrant in place, the case now enters an accelerated period in which courts may be asked to resolve remaining claims, and state corrections officials prepare for the execution. Arizona has used lethal injection for recent executions, and the state’s preparations typically include witness logistics and procedural checks required by policy.

The May 20 setting places the decades-old Phoenix arson case back into focus, with survivors and the victim’s family confronting a legal endpoint that has taken more than 20 years to reach.