Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Barnes & Noble Killing in Palm Beach Gardens: Suspect Held Without Bond as Motive Remains Unclear

Court records quote the suspect describing an unprovoked attack with no prior contact or stated motive.

Overview

  • Rita Loncharich, 65, was fatally stabbed inside the Barnes & Noble at Legacy Place on Dec. 22 and died at a hospital after officers rendered aid.
  • Witness accounts and in-store surveillance led police to identify 40-year-old Antonio R. Moore, who was found in nearby woods about 1,500 feet from the store.
  • Moore is charged with first-degree premeditated murder and is being held without bond after a first court appearance Wednesday morning.
  • According to the arrest affidavit, Moore said he was charging his phone, approached the victim and stabbed her with a pocket knife, and claimed no prior interaction or motive, describing an internal buildup.
  • Property management said they are enhancing on-site security and reviewing protocols as police continue what they describe as an active investigation.