💥EXCLUSIVE: Emily Finn, 18, a Sayville teen ballerina described by friends as “a light in the gym,” went to her ex-boyfriend Austin Lynch’s house to return his belongings and break up, just a day before his birthday.
A friend revealed that Emily was worried about his unexpected reaction because they had just ended an emotional teenage relationship, and her mother remembers Emily saying, “He wouldn’t accept it if I decided to go to SUNY Oneonta.”
Police have revealed a small object in the living room that no one has ever mentioned that could change the entire understanding of the case.
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Emily Finn was an accomplished ballerina who had dreams of being a teacher after recently graduating from Sayville High School before her life was cut short, according to her former dance instructor.
Finn, 18, was shot and killed Wednesday while visiting her ex-boyfriend at his home in Nesconset, before he turned the gun on himself, but survived, police said.
She had danced for more than four years at the American Ballet Studio in Bayport where she learned traditional ballet and was featured in several performances of “The Nutcracker,” before leaving in August for classes at SUNY Oneonta, said the studio’s artistic director Kathy Kairns-Scholz.
“She had everything in front of her. She would have been the best teacher, mother and whatever she chose to be,” Kairns-Scholz said Friday. Her personality was warm and welcoming. She was everything a parent would want in a child and teacher would want to have in their classroom.”
Finn was home from college this week and had gone to visit her ex-boyfriend to return his belongings after they had broken up weeks earlier, police said.
Police said the 17-year-old boy, one day before his 18th birthday, fired two shots from a legally-owned shotgun in the home — one shot that killed Finn and another shot to his face that was self-inflicted. The teen’s father came inside to call 911, police said.
The boy remained in critical but stable condition Friday, while awaiting arraignment on second-degree murder charges. The teen’s name was not released by police because he was a minor at the time of the shooting.
Suffolk County district attorney and court officials said no arraignment date had been set while he recovered from his injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital. No defense attorney was indicated in court records and it was unclear whether the teen would first be tried as a juvenile or an adult.
The American Ballet Studio canceled their performance in Saturday’s Sayville Holiday Parade and the Community’s Miracle on Main tree lighting festival, Kairns-Scholz said. She said grief counselors would be available Monday to students when they returned for rehearsals.
Many of the students danced with and looked up to Emily, Kairns-Scholz said. She said the studio planned to dedicate this year’s performance of “The Nutcracker” to Finn and the studio hoped to start a scholarship in her memory.
“We all cannot believe it. We’re a very close studio,” Kairns-Scholz said. “She was the nicest, kindest, talented and beautiful leader. She was loved by everybody and didn’t have anyone that didn’t look up to her.”
Finn took classes at the studio at least four days per week, in addition to extra classes to learn ballet techniques, Kairns-Scholz said. She was also president of fundraising for the ballet studio.
She also taught younger classes. In “The Nutcracker” performances, Finn had danced as the lead, Dew Drop Fairy, in the Waltz of the Flowers, in addition to other roles.
Finn was taking classes at Suffolk BOCES while at Sayville High School. She wanted to study early education, Kairns-Scholz said. She said Finn brought her ex-boyfriend with her to several dance events, but Kairns-Scholz said she didn’t know him well.
She said Finn had visited the studio about two weeks ago to greet instructors and her friends who were still taking classes. Kairns-Scholz said she had also attended a graduation party at Finn’s home with her family.
“She was a leader and took charge. She was a breath of fresh air with a beautiful smile and gorgeous blue eyes. She always seemed happy and ready to be there,” Kairns-Scholz said. “She was going great, meeting new people and always a great student. I thought she was very happy and couldn’t wait to start a new chapter in her life.”
Family friends set up a GoFundMe account to support Finn’s family, which by Friday afternoon had raised more than $55,000.
 The Sayville Alumni Association was also grieving Finn’s loss, saying her death “leaves an indelible void where a future of promise once stood.”
“We are utterly devastated. Our alumni community has lost one of its brightest lights to a senseless and unimaginable tragedy,” the association said in a statement. “We are united in our grief and heartbreak. In this darkness, our hearts are with Emily’s family and closest friends. We share in the weight of their loss. For now, we mourn. We remember her light. We hold each other close.”
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