Emily Finn, Sayville teen allegedly killed by ex-boyfriend, was ‘beautiful leader’ of Bayport dance studio, director says

Emily Finn was an accomplished ballerina who had dreams of becoming a teacher after her recent graduation from Sayville High School, her former dance instructor recalled Friday. But that was before she was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend following a recent breakup, authorities said.

Finn, 18, was killed Wednesday while visiting her ex-boyfriend at his home in Nesconset, before he attempted to kill himself but survived, police said.

She had danced for more than four years at the American Ballet Studio in Bayport, where she studied 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.

The 17-year-old ex, 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, according to police. The teen’s father came inside and called 911, police said.

The teen remained in critical but stable condition Friday while awaiting arraignment on second-degree murder charges. His 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. The teen is recovering from his injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital. There was no indication he has a defense attorney and it was unclear whether he would be tried as a juvenile or an adult.

The American Ballet Studio canceled its 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 Finn, she said. The studio planned to dedicate this year’s performance of “The Nutcracker” to Finn, and 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. 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.

“She was going great, meeting new people and always a great student,” Kairns-Scholz said. “I thought she was very happy and couldn’t wait to start a new chapter in her life.”

Family friends set up a fundraising account to support Finn’s family that by Friday evening had raised more than $65,000.

Sayville High School observed a 10-second moment of silence for Finn at Hofstra University before Sayville’s football game Friday against Wantagh for the Long Island Class III championship. School officials said grief counselors would be at Sayville High School on Monday.

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.”

Services for Finn have been set for 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home in West Sayville. A church service will follow at 10:30 a.m Monday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sayville. Her family has asked guests to wear “a splash of pink,” her favorite color, according to the funeral home.

Newsday’s Grant Parpan and Matt Lindsey contributed to this story.

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.