Hartford, Connecticut– A man carrying a backpack containing an AR-style pistol was arrested Thursday after he entered the headquarters of health insurance company Aetna in Connecticut, police said.
Security guards arrested the man without incident shortly after 10 a.m., within 3 minutes of entering the Hartford building. A Hartford police spokesman said they detained him until city police officers arrived.
Lt. Aaron Boisvert said it was not immediately clear what the man’s plans were.
The man was brought to Hartford Police Headquarters and charged with unlawful possession of an assault weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine and trespassing. Judicial and public records show he has a criminal history that includes convictions for assault, menacing and drug possession.
It was not immediately clear whether the man had a lawyer who could respond to these accusations.
Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS Health, Aetna’s parent company, issued a brief statement about the incident and did not immediately respond to follow-up questions.
“Earlier today, a suspicious person attempted to enter our office, and was immediately arrested by our security team and detained by local police,” the statement read.
The arrest comes amid concerns about the safety of healthcare executives, following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024 in New York City. Luigi Mangionean Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges related to the murder. He has become a Cause celebrities For people who are dissatisfied with the health insurance industry.
In February, CVS Health announced it was laying off more than 300 remote workers who reported to Aetna headquarters.