The Long Island teenager accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend in what prosecutors described as an “execution-style murder” requested a psychiatric exam at his court hearing on Wednesday.
Austin Lynch, 18, is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Emily Finn, also 18, at his home in Nesconset before shooting himself in the face in a botched murder-suicide on the day before Thanksgiving.
Lynch’s attorney said Wednesday he will request a mental health evaluation to determine if he’s competent to stand trial, Newsday reported. He appeared in court with bandages on his face from the gunshot two weeks ago.
Prosecutors have said Lynch’s actions were carefully planned and intentional. At his arraignment last week, authorities described him as possessive and overbearing, unable to handle the split from Finn.
Lynch and Finn began dating when they were 14 years old, but broke up during Finn’s first semester in college, at SUNY Oneonta. Lynch stayed behind on Long Island and was planning to attend Marine boot camp in February.
After they split, Lynch continued contacting Finn nonstop, bombarding her with texts and calls to the point that she blocked his number, police said. Unable to handle the block, Lynch allegedly began using his mother’s phone and messaging Finn’s friends.
Despite the concerning behavior, Finn told her family she wanted to return to Lynch’s home over Thanksgiving break, end things face-to-face and return some of his belongings.
As Finn was leaving the house, Lynch shot her in the back of the head with a family shotgun, investigators said. He had loaded two bullets into the gun and fired the second at himself but survived, according to police.
Lynch was one day from turning 18 at the time of the shooting. The judge ruled he’ll be held in adult jail during the case, according to Newsday. He has pleaded not guilty and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Lynch is due back in court on Jan. 20.
