A federal judge in New York has approved the addition of a death penalty specialist to the legal team of Luigi Mangione, who is facing federal charges in connection with the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel.

Mangione, 26, is charged with multiple federal crimes, including murder through the use of a firearm, which could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. On Tuesday, Judge Katherine Parker granted the defense’s request to bring in Avraham Markowitz, a seasoned capital case attorney, to assist in Mangione’s defense, according to ABC News.

A spokesperson for Agnifilo Intrater, the firm representing Mangione, emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the need for specialized legal expertise. “The Agnifilo Intrater team is pleased to have Avi Moskowitz lend his considerable expertise in death penalty cases to Mr. Mangione’s federal case as ‘learned counsel.’ The charges could not be more serious, and our client needs every resource at his disposal to fight these unprecedented charges in three jurisdictions,” the statement read.

Mangione faces an array of charges, including one count of using a firearm to commit murder, one count of interstate stalking resulting in death, one count of stalking through interstate facilities leading to death, and one count of discharging a firearm equipped with a silencer during a violent crime.

In addition to the federal indictment, New York State prosecutors have charged him with two counts of second-degree murder—one classified as an act of terrorism—along with multiple counts of illegal weapons possession.

Authorities allege that Mangione ambushed Thompson from behind, shooting him multiple times before fleeing the scene on foot. He remained at large for several days until a McDonald’s employee in Pennsylvania recognized him and alerted the police, leading to his arrest.