Luigi Mangione, the prime suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has spawned several conspiracy theories on the internet, the most prominent of which is the “286 conspiracy theory.”
The 286 conspiracy theory draws its source from several coincidences related to the number 286 and the case.
Luigi Mangione’s Arrest Sparks ‘286 Conspiracy Theory
Some of the coincidences include the suspect’s X handle featuring 286 posts; his arrest 286 miles away from the place where Thompson was fatally shot; and a Bible verse, Proverbs 28:6, which derides the high-handedness of the rich and the corrupt.
The Bible verse states:
“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”
The verse is often linked to Mangione’s vitriolic disdain for corporate policies and personalities like Thompson.
However, the most glaring coincidence is that 286 corresponds to a healthcare denial code. Many contend that this could also have been the motive for Luigi Mangione to kill Brian Thompson, who was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a healthcare insurance provider with the highest rejection record, much above the national average. Police are still trying to determine if the suspect had ever been a subscriber of UnitedHealthcare insurance in the past.
Many believe that the links described above are deliberate and symbolic, while others believe they are mere coincidences and do not attach much importance to them, contending that it is more a case of overanalyzed internet speculation.
Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was a well-known figure in the healthcare industry and was hailed in corporate circles for his cost-cutting measures.
He was instrumental in streamlining insurance policies. However, he had his share of detractors, who were very vocal about UnitedHealthcare’s high denial rates, which reached almost 40% compared to the national average.
Brian Thompson was shot dead using a silenced gun on December 7, 2024, outside a restaurant. Thompson was leaving the premises after attending a private party. The gunman fired several bullets, hitting the victim in the chest and abdomen. The victim was rushed to a medical center, but the hospital declared him brought dead.
Luigi Mangione, the prime suspect in the fatal shooting, was arrested two days later at a McDonald’s outlet when he was recognized by an employee who immediately alerted the police.
The police were able to recover a Glock live ammunition magazine and a two-page memorandum in which Luigi Mangione expressed how the healthcare system had become defunct and reimbursements were denied on the flimsiest of grounds.
It was also revealed that the ghost gun used to carry out the killing was made using 3D printing technology.
