A 65-year-old woman was fatally stabbed inside a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on December 22, 2025, in what authorities describe as an unprovoked attack just days before Christmas. Rita Berenice Loncharich, a Stuart resident, died during surgery at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach after being stabbed in the back with a fixed-blade knife.

Police responded to the Barnes & Noble at 11380 Legacy Avenue in the Legacy Place shopping center off PGA Boulevard at approximately 7:53 p.m. Officers found Loncharich unresponsive inside the store and immediately rendered aid before she was transported to the hospital.

Antonio Roderick Moore, 40, was arrested near the scene and charged with first-degree murder. He is being held without bail.

According to the arrest report, Moore told investigators he had been charging his phone inside the bookstore when he suddenly retrieved the knife from his jacket pocket. There was an internal “build up” that led to his fight or flight response kicking in, with Loncharich being the closest person inside the store, Moore stated, according to police documents. He admitted to stabbing her and indicated he had no prior interaction with her.

The suspect fled the store and ran into nearby woods following the attack. Officers located Moore near the scene a short time after the stabbing.

Witnesses at the scene and store surveillance footage provided investigators with a description of the suspect, which helped officers quickly identify Moore after his arrest. The investigation revealed no prior interaction between Moore and Loncharich that would have provoked the attack.

Moore told police he had traveled from Georgia by bus and arrived in the Palm Beach Gardens area about a week before the attack. On December 15, he took a bus from Orlando to Titusville before making his way south to Palm Beach County.

The apparently random nature of the attack shocked the community, particularly because it occurred during the busy holiday shopping season. The stabbing took place on Monday, when many shoppers were completing last-minute Christmas purchases at the popular shopping center.

Loncharich had worked as a server at Rancho Chico restaurant in Tequesta for over a decade. Owners of the Mexican restaurant described her as a beloved member of the staff who treated her coworkers like family. Coworkers and friends remembered Loncharich as kind, gentle, and loving. She loved to travel and go to the beach.

An online fundraiser was established to help Loncharich’s family with funeral expenses and other costs associated with the tragedy. The fundraiser has raised over $15,000 as the community rallied to support the family during their time of grief.

Random stabbings in retail establishments remain relatively rare but have raised concerns about public safety in commercial spaces. These incidents often occur without warning and can be difficult to prevent, particularly when the attacker has no apparent connection to the victim.

Bookstores have traditionally been considered safe public spaces where families and individuals can browse and shop in a relaxed environment. The Legacy Place shopping center, where the Barnes & Noble is located, attracts numerous shoppers, especially during the holiday season when foot traffic increases significantly.

The case highlights ongoing challenges related to mental health and public safety. Moore’s statement to police about experiencing a “fight or flight” response suggests a possible mental health crisis, though investigators have not released information about any diagnosed conditions or previous incidents involving the suspect.

Moore faces a charge of first-degree murder, one of the most serious criminal charges under Florida law. The first-degree murder charge indicates that prosecutors believe the killing was premeditated, despite Moore’s claims about an impulsive “fight or flight” response.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack continues, as authorities work to understand what led Moore to travel from Georgia to Florida and what factors contributed to the violent outburst inside the bookstore. Police have not released additional information about Moore’s activities during the week he spent in Palm Beach Gardens before the attack.