Mental health nurse practitioner was killed by patient in stabbing, family says

A family member of June Onkundi said she loved her job as a mental health nurse practitioner. The family member said she was on the job when she was stabbed by her own patient.

Posted 9:09 p.m. Oct 18, 2022 — Updated 6:49 p.m. Oct 20, 2022

Sarah Krueger

, WRAL Durham reporter

DURHAM, N.C. — The Durham Police Department said it is investigating a fatal stabbing that happened Tuesday afternoon in the 400 block of Crutchfield Street.

Police said officers responded to a disturbance with a weapon call just after 1:40 p.m. Tuesday. When they arrived, they discovered that June Onkundi had been stabbed.

Onkundi was taken to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

On Thursday, North Carolina Nurses Association President Meka Ingram released a statement about Onkundi's death.

“We are heartbroken by the senseless death of our colleague and fellow NCNA member, June Onkundi," Ingram wrote. "Our prayers go out to her friends and family. She dedicated her life to helping others and we should all be proud of the positive impact she had on some of the most vulnerable patients. Her loss has shaken the nursing profession throughout North Carolina.

"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 suspect, James Gomes, was still on the scene Tuesday when officers arrived and police said he was taken into custody. Gomes, 47, is facing a first-degree murder charge.

On Wednesday, WRAL News spoke with a family member of Onkundi, who said she loved her job at Freedom House Recovery Center as a mental health nurse practitioner.

Freedom House Recovery Center is a non-profit behavioral health care agency that provides a broad continuum of person-centered, comprehensive services for children, adolescents, adults and families who suffer from behavioral issues, mental illness or addiction.

The family member said Onkundi was on the job and that Gomes was her patient.

Gomes is due back in court on Nov. 9 for a probable-cause hearing.

Gomes has spent more than one-third of his life behind bars. On Wednesday, a prosecutor in court noted Gomes has five previous convictions. Each of them are related to violence against women. It contributed to the judge's decision to keep Gomes behind bars with no bond.

Also, Gomes will be assigned a public defender.

On Tuesday night, a WRAL News crew saw multiple members of the forensics team go in and out of the building, which houses multiple medical offices carrying out loaded evidence bags, making multiple trips.

The circumstances and motive behind the stabbing remain unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator A. Bongarten at (919) 560-4440, ext. 29529 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.

James Gomes, 47, is facing a first-degree murder charge.

James Gomes' previous criminal history

Each time Gomes was released from prison, he has been accused in new crimes in only a matter of months.

In July 2006, Gomes was convicted of first-degree attempted rape and second-degree kidnapping. In March 2005, officials told WRAL News he was working as a janitor at Merrick-Moore Elementary School in Durham when he tried to rape his coworker, with a knife to her throat.

Court records show Gomes was released from prison in July 2018.

In March 2019, police said Gomes committed more crimes. He was charged with kidnapping, assault on a female and assault by strangulation. He got out of prison on those charges only four months ago.

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