'Dedicated, Compassionate' N.C. Nurse Allegedly Stabbed to Death at Work by Psychiatric Patient

Mar. 15, 2025

A 47-year-old man has been charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed a nurse to death at the Freedom House Recovery Center in Durham, N.C., according to multiple reports.

Shortly before 2 p.m. on Oct. 18, Durham Police responded to a call at the non-profit behavioral health care agency and discovered Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner June Onkundi had been stabbed,according to WRAL.

James Gomes was arrested and charged with murder,according to online jail records. He is currently being held without bond at the Durham County Jail. It was not immediately clear if he had entered a plea or retained an attorney to comment on his behalf.

Onkundi was a married mother of four children who loved her job as a mental health nurse, her friends and family told multiple news outlets.

GoFundMe

Her family has createda GoFund Me accountto assist with the cost of her funeral and other expenses following her death.

“She was dedicated, compassionate, kind, and caring,” the page states. “June would make any gloomy day … a brighter one. Her voice and presence were magical to both staff and patients. The community has lost a great nurse.”

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Her family told ABC11 that Onkundi was preparing to begin a doctorate program at Duke University in January 2023.

North Carolina Nurses Association’s President Meka Ingram released a statement about Onkundi’s death.

The group also addressed the growing dangers of working as a nurse.

“Violence in the workplace is one of the greatest challenges facing nurses, and the problem has grown exponentially over the last few years. It is my desperate hope that June Onkundi’s death serves as a turning point and that those of us in healthcare can truly begin to address this problem,” the statement said.

PEOPLE was not able to immediately reach Freedom House Recovery Center.

source: people.com