A quiet suburban neighborhood in Nesconset, Long Island, was devastated Wednesday morning when a heartbreaking act of violence claimed the life of 18-year-old Emily Finn of West Sayville. According to Suffolk County Police, Emily was fatally shot by her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend inside his family’s home before he attempted to take his own life. The tragic incident unfolded just after 11:10 a.m. on Shenandoah Boulevard North, shaking a community already preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Authorities say Emily had gone to the home to return her ex-boyfriend’s belongings after their recent breakup — a moment that should have been simple, civil, and brief. Instead, the encounter turned deadly. Homicide detectives with the Suffolk County Police Department confirmed that the teen shot Emily and then turned the gun on himself. His parents, who were home at the time, immediately called 911 as chaos erupted inside their residence.
When officers arrived, they found Emily unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The 17-year-old suspect, whose identity is being withheld due to his age, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition. Police expect to file a second-degree murder charge once he is medically cleared, and arraignment will follow at a later date. Officials added that there were no prior domestic-violence reports or 911 calls involving the pair, leaving investigators and neighbors stunned.
Emily’s loss has deeply shaken two communities — Nesconset and her hometown of West Sayville. She was a recent graduate of Sayville High School’s Class of 2025 and had just begun her freshman year at SUNY Oneonta, studying Childhood and Elementary Education with a minor in Dance. Friends, teachers, and loved ones described her as joyful, dedicated, and full of promise. Her involvement in local schools, dance programs, and community activities made her well-known and cherished by many.
As investigators continue to comb through evidence, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the timeline, questions remain about what unfolded in those final moments of Emily’s life. Police have not identified a clear motive, and the absence of a prior history between the two teens only deepens the tragedy.