Arizona executed Leroy Dean McGill on Wednesday for the 2002 murder of Charles Perez, who was killed when McGill threw gasoline at him and lit a match during an attack at a north Phoenix apartment.

McGill, 63, was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. PT following a lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. His last words were reported as "I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice," according to corrections officials.

The fatal attack occurred on July 13, 2002, when McGill threw gasoline and a lit match at Perez and his girlfriend Nova Banta as they sat on a sofa in their apartment. Perez and Banta had accused McGill of stealing a gun from the apartment before the attack. At the time, McGill was using methamphetamine and had not slept for several days, authorities said.

Banta survived the attack but suffered third-degree burns over three-quarters of her body. Perez died later at a hospital. During the trial, Banta testified that McGill told them not to talk behind people's backs before lighting them on fire.

McGill was convicted in October 2004 of murder in Perez's death, attempted murder for attacking Banta, arson, and endangerment charges. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before reaching the verdict and ultimately sentenced him to death. His defense lawyers had argued for leniency based on childhood abuse, mental impairment, and psychological immaturity.

This was Arizona's first execution of 2026. The state resumed executions in 2022 after a nearly eight-year hiatus caused by difficulties obtaining execution drugs and criticism over a botched 2014 execution. With McGill's death, Arizona now has 108 prisoners on death row.