An armed man was detained by security guards last week after attempting to enter Aetna's headquarters in Hartford, Connecticut, in an incident that comes amid heightened concerns about the safety of health care executives.
The episode follows the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot in New York City in what authorities described as a targeted attack.
Hartford police identified the suspect as Denrey Wadlington, 51. According to police reports, Wadlington was carrying an AR-style pistol in a backpack when he entered the building. The firearm was loaded, with multiple rounds, including one in the chamber.
Authorities said it remains unclear what Wadlington intended to do, though prosecutors noted that a meeting of senior Aetna executives was underway at the time of the incident.
Police said Wadlington was able to access the building through an unlocked door after multiple attempts to enter. A security officer initially encountered him when he asked for help, claiming he was being chased, according to the arrest report. He was later detained by security personnel within minutes.
A Hartford police report states that roughly 25 senior executives, including Aetna's chief financial officer, were gathered in a ground-floor conference room when Wadlington approached and banged on a glass door. David Joyner, president and CEO of Aetna parent company CVS Health, was participating in the meeting remotely via videoconference.
Wadlington was taken into custody and charged with illegal possession of an assault weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine and trespassing. Police said the weapon's detachable magazine contained 11 rounds and had the capacity to hold significantly more.
Court and public records indicate Wadlington has a criminal history that includes convictions for assault, threatening and drug possession. He did not enter a plea at his initial court appearance and was held on $1 million bond.
CVS Health acknowledged the incident in a brief statement but did not provide additional details.
The incident underscores growing concerns about security in the healthcare sector following Thompson's killing. In that case, authorities allege Luigi Mangione carried out the shooting in retaliation tied to insurance-related grievances. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges.
© Touchpoint Markets, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.