Promising Ballerina's Life Cut Short in Tragic Shooting
The Long Island community has been plunged into mourning after the violent death of 18-year-old Emily Finn, a talented ballerina whose warmth and leadership touched countless lives. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday when Finn, home from SUNY Oneonta for the holiday break, visited her ex-boyfriend's Nesconset home to return his belongings following their recent separation.
The 17-year-old boy, just one day away from his 18th birthday, allegedly fired two shots from a legally owned shotgun, fatally striking Finn before turning the weapon on himself. Despite suffering facial injuries, he survived and now faces serious charges in connection with Finn's death.
Community Rallies in Grief and Remembrance
Vigils, memorial ribbons, and heartfelt messages have appeared throughout New York towns including Sayville and Bayport, where Finn had trained for years at the American Ballet Studio before beginning her university studies in August. The recent Sayville High School graduate had been studying early education at SUNY Oneonta after completing BOCES classes during her secondary education.
Artistic director Kathy Kairns-Scholz remembered Finn as "a breath of fresh air with a beautiful smile and gorgeous blue eyes" who demonstrated exceptional promise. "She had everything in front of her," Kairns-Scholz told Newsday. "She would have been the best teacher, mother and whatever she chose to be. Her personality was warm and welcoming."
A Life of Dedication and Leadership Cut Short
Finn's commitment to ballet extended over more than four years at American Ballet Studio, where she performed in multiple productions of The Nutcracker and assumed significant leadership responsibilities. She served as the studio's fundraising president and dedicated herself to teaching younger students, often attending classes four or more days each week.
"She was dedicated and worked 100 percent all the time," Kairns-Scholz recalled. "She knew everything. She picked choreography up very quickly and had a great mind that she could retain everything. A beautiful performer." The director added that "there wasn't a person that didn't like her," noting the profound impact Finn had on everyone she encountered.
In response to the tragedy, students plan to decorate the studio with pink ribbons in Finn's honour, and this year's Nutcracker performance will be dedicated to her memory. The studio hopes to establish a scholarship bearing her name, while weekend community events including the Sayville Holiday Parade and Miracle on Main tree lighting have been cancelled as the community processes its grief.
Austin Lynch, 18, identified as Finn's ex-boyfriend, remained in critical but stable condition on Friday and is expected to face a second-degree murder charge. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office confirmed that under New York's Raise the Age law, the court will determine whether he faces charges as an adult.
Meanwhile, memories of Finn have circulated widely online, including prom photographs showing the young woman smiling in a magenta-coloured dress. Friends have flooded social media with tributes, with one writing: "This was such a sudden tragedy and I hope justice will be served for you and your family. Nothing will be the same without you."
The Sayville Alumni Association released a statement describing how Finn's death "leaves an indelible void where a future of promise once stood." They expressed being "utterly devastated" and having "lost one of its brightest lights to a senseless and unimaginable tragedy."
A GoFundMe campaign established to support Finn's family had raised nearly $75,000 by Saturday morning, describing the young woman as "a part of the fabric of the lives she touched in her generous and kind way." The page notes that "Emily leaves a hole in the lives of her mother, father, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends."
Grief counsellors will be available to students on Monday as the community continues to grapple with the loss of a young woman whose potential, according to those who knew her best, knew no bounds.
