Memorial Tree to Honor Emily Finn, 18-Year-Old West Sayville Student Killed in Botched Murder-Suicide by 17-Year-Old Ex-Boyfriend

A memorial tree will be planted in honor of Emily Finn, the 18-year-old West Sayville college freshman who was shot and killed by her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend in Nesconset this week, as part of a nationwide initiative dedicated to young victims of gun violence.

The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation — widely known as The Uvalde Foundation For Kids — announced that Finn will be memorialized through its “Trees for Peace Youth Gun Violence Memorial” program. A tree in her name will be planted at the Finger Lakes National Forest in upstate New York, according to Greater Long Island.

A Tribute to a Talented Young Dancer

“Emily Finn was more than a tragic statistic; she was a promise of brilliance,” said Daniel Chapin, founder of the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation. “A passionate dancer whose grace on stage represented the beautiful potential of youth — a potential cut short by a bullet.”
Chapin added that the memorial tree will serve as a living reminder urging communities and policymakers to confront youth dating violence and the accessibility of firearms.

Finn, a freshman at SUNY Oneonta, died Wednesday in what police described as a botched murder-suicide. She had stopped by the Nesconset home of her ex-boyfriend — identified on social media as Austin Lynch, 17 — to return personal belongings following a recent breakup. According to Suffolk County homicide detectives, Lynch shot Finn before turning the gun on himself. He survived with a gunshot wound to the face and remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Authorities say he will be charged with second-degree murder.

A Life Rooted in Dance and Teaching

Finn graduated from Sayville High School in June and had recently begun pursuing a degree in early childhood and elementary education with a minor in dance.
A lifelong dancer, she spent six years at the American Ballet Studio in Bayport as both a student and instructor. The studio is honoring her memory by lining the space with pink ribbons — her favorite color — establishing a scholarship in her name, and dedicating this year’s “Nutcracker” performance to her, News 12 Long Island reported.

Community Grapples With the Devastation

A family friend of the 17-year-old described him as emotionally overwhelmed by the breakup, calling it a tragic example of a young person unable to process intense emotions.
“The frontal lobe is still undeveloped and not equipped to handle these emotions,” the friend said. “Breakups feel earth-shattering at that age, but this should never have happened.”

Memorial Tree to Honor Emily Finn, 18-Year-Old West Sayville Student Killed in Botched Murder-Suicide by 17-Year-Old Ex-Boyfriend

He added: “Emily is dead. Her family is destroyed. Two young lives changed forever in an instant.”

Honoring Emily’s Memory

Services for Finn are scheduled for Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Her family has requested that attendees wear a splash of pink. They also ask that donations be made to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

A GoFundMe created to support the family has raised more than $80,000.

The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation says it remains committed to transforming grief into action and ensuring every young life lost to gun violence receives lasting recognition.