A Long Island community is mourning the death of 18-year-old Emily Finn, a beloved ballerina who was allegedly shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend. The tragedy unfolded when Finn, home from SUNY Oneonta for the holiday break, went to the Nesconset home of her ex-boyfriend to return his belongings after their recent breakup.
Police say the 17-year-old boy, one day shy of his 18th birthday, fired two shots from a legally owned shotgun, killing Finn before shooting himself in the face. He survived and now faces charges. The suspect, Austin Lynch, 18, remained in critical but stable condition and is expected to face a second-degree murder charge.
Finn, a recent Sayville High School graduate, had trained at the American Ballet Studio in Bayport for over four years. Artistic director Kathy Kairns-Scholz described her as dedicated, warm, and a natural leader. “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.”
Vigils, ribbons, and messages of remembrance have appeared across New York towns. The Sayville Alumni Association said Finn’s death “leaves an indelible void where a future of promise once stood.” A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $75,000 to support her family.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said the court will determine whether Lynch is charged as an adult under New York’s Raise the Age law. Grief counselors will be available to students on Monday, and this year’s Nutcracker performance will be dedicated to Finn.
