Memorial tree to be planted for Emily Finn, West Sayville gun violence victim who was shot and killed in botched murder-suicide by her 17-year-old ex Nesconset, NY boyfriend.
When gun violence becomes the go too answer to a scorned self …
A memorial tree will be planted to honor Emily Finn, the 18-year-old West Sayville woman, who was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in Nesconset earlier this week as part of a national initiative to commemorate young lives lost to gun violence.
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation, also known as The Uvalde Foundation For Kids, announced that Finn will be honored through its ‘Trees for Peace Youth Gun Violence Memorial’ program with a tree planted at the Finger Lakes National Forest in upstate New York, Greater Longer Island reported.
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‘Emily Finn was more than a tragic statistic; she was a promise of brilliance, a passionate dancer whose grace on the stage represented the beautiful potential of youth, a potential cut short by a bullet,’ said Daniel Chapin, founder of the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation. ‘Her senseless murder is a stark, agonizing reminder of the lethal intersection between youth dating violence and the easy accessibility of firearms.’
Chapin added that The Trees for Peace program is a vow that Finn’s memory will not fade, but ‘will grow into a powerful, living symbol in the Finger Lakes National Forest, urging every community, educator, and policymaker to advocate and act decisively to disarm the violence threatening our young people’s futures.’
Finn, a college freshman at SUNY Oneonta and passionate dancer, died Wednesday during a botched murder-suicide after her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend, since identified by social media as Austin Lynch, gunned her down after dropping by his family’s Nesconset residence to return personal belongings after a recent break up.
Suffolk County homicide detectives said that after shooting Finn, the 17-year-old shot himself in the face. Lynch survived and was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical but stable condition. The 17-year-old is to be charged with second-degree murder.
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Finn, who graduated from Sayville High School in June, had just started studying early childhood / elementary education with a minor in dance at SUNY Oneonta.
An avid dancer who loved ballet from a very young age, Finn spent six years at the American Ballet Studio in Bayport as both a student and teacher.
The ballet studio is honoring Finn’s memory by lining the studio with pink ribbons, establishing a scholarship in her name, and dedicating this year’s “Nutcracker” performance to her, News 12 Long Island reported.
Commenting on the shooting, a family friend of the 17 year old teen’s said the boy was ‘overwhelmed’ after his ‘puppy love’ relationship with the college freshman coming to an end.
Explained the friend, ‘The frontal lobe is still undeveloped and not equipped to handle and process these emotions. I went through breakups when I was younger and they’re awful but I never contemplated doing anything like this.’
Added the family friend, ‘That’s ultimately what this was. The inability of a young kid to process this. It feels like the world is coming to an end.’
‘Emily is dead. Her family is destroyed. These people lost their lives in an instant.’
Services for Finn are Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, with her family requesting that attendees wear a splash of pink in honor of her favorite color. The family has requested donations be made to The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
A GoFundMe campaign established to support Finn’s family has raised more than $80,000.
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation said its work continues to focus on turning grief into meaningful action and providing permanent recognition for each young life lost to gun violence.
