Police say a 40-year-old man was taken into custody soon after the attack; the investigation continues.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL — A 65-year-old woman was fatally stabbed inside the Barnes & Noble at Legacy Place on Monday evening, and a suspect was arrested shortly afterward, police said. Officers arrived just before 8 p.m., found the victim inside the store and performed aid before she was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Police identified the victim as Rita B. Loncharich. Investigators said the attack happened as shoppers moved through the store during the busy holiday week. Detectives quickly circulated a description from witnesses and located a man they identified as Antonio R. Moore a short time later. As of Tuesday, police said the motive remained unknown. The case has shifted from a swift response at the scene to a homicide investigation that is drawing records, surveillance video and witness interviews while the suspect is held in the county jail without bond.
Officers were dispatched at approximately 7:53 p.m. Monday to the store at 11380 Legacy Avenue after reports of a stabbing. When officers entered, they found Loncharich wounded and began lifesaving measures. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue transported her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Witnesses told police the attacker fled on foot. “This investigation is active and ongoing,” the department said in a written statement Tuesday, noting detectives are working to determine what led up to the violence inside the bookstore. The store reopened Tuesday, with customers describing a quiet atmosphere and clusters of police tape still visible outside in the morning.
Investigators identified the suspect as Moore, 40. According to jail records, Moore was booked Tuesday morning on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder and is being held without bond. Police said he was found soon after the stabbing based on descriptions provided by people in the store and in the Legacy Place shopping center. A spokesperson for Barnes & Noble said the company does not comment on active police investigations. Legacy Place management said it was “deeply saddened” by the death, adding that the center is enhancing on-site security and reviewing protocols with tenants. Detectives have not released information about any prior contact between the victim and suspect, and the department said motive remains under review.
Loncharich, 65, was identified by police in a Tuesday update. The attack occurred inside a longtime retail hub just off PGA Boulevard that draws steady evening traffic during December. Shoppers who returned Tuesday described a shaken community. “It’s terrible that anybody can’t walk into a regular store without being fearful,” said David, who lives in Jupiter Farms and often visits the bookstore. Another customer, Quinn Davis, called the killing “gut wrenching,” saying he was stunned to learn it happened in a familiar spot. A woman who gave her name as Rebekkah said she was thinking of employees who witnessed the aftermath.
The incident adds to a series of high-profile violent crimes that have pulled police and private security into crowded retail areas near the holidays. Palm Beach Gardens police said they are collecting store surveillance video from inside and outside the bookseller, canvassing nearby businesses and taking formal statements from customers who were present Monday evening. Detectives are also reviewing 911 calls, examining the knife believed to have been used and checking recent calls for service in the immediate area for any relevant activity. The department said it expects to provide additional updates once key interviews and lab work are completed.
Booking records show Moore’s initial court appearance is expected Wednesday morning. If prosecutors proceed with the first-degree murder charge, the case could be presented to a grand jury in the coming weeks. For now, Moore remains in the Palm Beach County Jail. Police said they would confer with the State Attorney’s Office as they complete interviews and evidence reviews. Officials did not release information about whether the victim and suspect knew each other, saying only that investigators are still working to determine any prior connection. The department did not announce any broader public safety threat following the arrest.
By late Tuesday afternoon, the shopping center’s statement emphasized cooperation with law enforcement and an increased security presence. Customers filtered in and out of nearby stores while a small group paused along Legacy Avenue to ask officers what had happened the night before. “I’ve lived here more than 50 years and I can’t imagine seeing something like that,” one longtime resident said outside the bookstore. Inside, staff quietly reset displays while a few aisles remained cordoned from public view, according to shoppers. The police department asked anyone who was in the store around the time of the attack and has not yet spoken with detectives to contact investigators.
As of Tuesday evening, police said the homicide investigation remained open with evidence processing and interviews underway. The next expected milestone is the suspect’s first appearance hearing on Wednesday, when a judge will review the no-bond status and the charge outlined by prosecutors.
Author note: Last updated December 23, 2025.