Cops: Mercy College Student's Death Still 'Suspicious'

There have been no official updates since the sudden tragedy rocked Tarrytown, Mercy College where Bookstaver was a student, and her hometown of Hicksville, Long Island—at least not any that police can talk about.

Police Lt. William Herguth said ballistics and forensic studies are still underway to determine the trajectory of the one shot that proved fatal, striking Bookstaver, 23, in the head when she, her boyfriend, and an unnamed male friend were allegedly “examining firearms” on the fourth floor of her boyfriend’s family home.

Herguth said Eric Gaulin, Bookstaver’s boyfriend, has still not talked to police.

Authorities have issued no charges, said Herguth, and have no have no further information “that can be released.”

Bookstaver was declared dead at the scene on the afternoon of Sept. 2 in the Gualin townhome at Tarrytown’s riverfront on West Main Street. She was mourned on Sept. 7 at a funeral at Parkway Community Church in Hicksville.

In Ossining on Sept. 12, police described an incident as a "tragedy that didn't happen," when a 19-year-old fooling around with a handgun accidentally shot himself through the finger. The teen is being charged with various felony offenses.