The holiday season took a tragic turn in Palm Beach Gardens just days before Christmas, when a woman was fatally stabbed inside a bustling Barnes & Noble bookstore. Authorities have identified the suspect as Antonio R. Moore, a 40-year-old man with a journey stretching across state lines before the horrific event.
Rita B. Loncharich, 65, was enjoying an evening at the bookstore when she was attacked. Investigators revealed Moore wasn’t a Florida resident, but had been traveling through Georgia and North Carolina before arriving in the state, his path shrouded in mystery.
Moore’s movements were traced back to a bus ride from Orlando to Titusville on December 15th, ultimately leading him into Palm Beach County. He entered the bookstore around 7:29 p.m., and Loncharich followed shortly after, unaware of the impending violence.
The attack unfolded swiftly and brutally. Moore approached Loncharich in a store aisle and stabbed her in the back with a pocketknife, a sudden act of violence that shocked onlookers. Witnesses rushed to help, providing aid until first responders arrived on the scene.
According to Moore’s own account to police, a sudden “fight or flight” response consumed him. He claimed to have pulled a fixed-blade knife from his jacket and stabbed the nearest person – Loncharich – stating he had no prior connection to her.
Loncharich was immediately transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center, but despite the efforts of surgeons, she succumbed to her injuries during surgery. The 911 call came in at 7:52 p.m., and police apprehended Moore several blocks from the bookstore just minutes later, taking him into custody without a struggle.
Moore, who is currently listed as homeless, offered no discernible motive for the attack, reiterating he had no prior relationship with Loncharich. He admitted to having been in the store charging his phone shortly before the stabbing, a chilling detail in the unfolding investigation.
He is now being held without bond, facing a charge of first-degree premeditated murder. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has documented his arrest, marking a somber chapter in the community’s history.
Those who knew Rita Loncharich remember her as a “kind, gentle” soul, a beloved member of the community whose life was tragically cut short during what should have been a peaceful holiday outing. Her loss has left a void in the hearts of many.
