Southbury Man Gets Probation In Brookfield Happy Landings Shooting

BROOKFIELD, CT — A Southbury man charged in connection with a 2025 shooting at Happy Landings in Brookfield has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to reduced charges, according to Connecticut Judicial Branch records.

Gerald Lee Rutledge, 67, pleaded guilty Sept. 21 to two counts of third-degree assault and one count of first-degree reckless endangerment, all Class A misdemeanors, court records show.

Rutledge was sentenced to 364 days in jail with the sentence suspended and three years of probation. Court records list the overall sentence as "probation with special conditions."

The case stemmed from a Jan. 22, 2025, shooting at Happy Landings Farm on Whisconier Road.

Brookfield police responded to a report of a disturbance and shooting in the parking lot of 55 Whisconier Road around 7:13 p.m.

During the investigation, police were notified by Danbury Hospital that two patients had arrived with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds related to the incident.

Police arrested Rutledge, then 65, on charges of first- and second-degree assault with a firearm. Rithy Kay, then 45, of Danbury, was charged with third-degree assault.

Police said at the time that the shooting was an isolated incident and there was no danger to the public.