The family of a mental health nurse practitioner who was stabbed to death while working in Durham this week is calling for more protection for nurses on the job.
The State Nurses Association is echoing those calls for change.
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June Onkundi was working at the Freedom House Recovery Center, where they provide treatment for people struggling with mental health or addiction issues, when she was killed by a patient, according to her family.
Radio traffic indicates she was stabbed in her own office.
She leaves behind four children under the age of 16, a grieving husband and a devastated extended family who wants to keep her memory alive.
Onkundi's family says she died doing what she loved.
"June was a loving mother. A devoted wife. A hardworking individual, who had a passion for taking care of the under-served population, which is mental health," says Andrew Nyabwari, her brother-in-law.
They say she moved to the US from Kenya at age 19 – and by every account, she was living the American dream: Putting herself through school, buying a home, getting married and raising a family.
"She felt it was actually her calling. It was informed both by her faith and background in serving this doubly under-served community," says Onditi Nunda, another relative.
While she had been a nurse for years, her family says she only started with Freedom House about three months ago.
They want to know why more protection wasn't in place, especially given the suspect's background. The man charged in her murder -- James Gomes -- has a history of attacking women.
"He is somebody with a very extensive criminal history," says Nyabwari. "Why was he out? I feel like the system let us known. The system let June down."
"How did this happen? Because you would expect that there is workplace safety," says Nunda. "These are things that need to be addressed. We need answers."
The family is calling for more protection for nurses – a call the North Carolina Nurses Association stands behind.
"June died from circumstances that could have been avoided. One, by the system that let him out with that extensive violent history," says Nyabwari.
WRAL News reached out to Freedom House on Thursday morning to ask them about what security measures they had at the time, and if they are adding any additional measures. We have not heard back yet. However, a sign on their door says they will be closed until further notice.
In the meantime, her family and community are left to grieve the loss of a beloved mother, spouse and nurse. They have put up a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of her funeral.