TEMPERATURES WILL DROP INTO THE 60S. AND THEN FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS DAY AFTERNOON, WE’LL SEE UPPER 70S WITH PLENTY OF SUNSHINE BREAKING OUT AT NINE. THE ARREST REPORT, JUST RELEASED AFTER A DEADLY STABBING AT THE PALM BEACH GARDENS, BARNES AND NOBLE POLICE SAY IT APPEARS TO BE A RANDOM ATTACK, AND THIS COMES AS THE SUSPECT IS SET TO FACE A JUDGE IN JUST THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. THAT SUSPECT IS 40 YEAR-OLD ANTONIO MOORE, AND HE IS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER. PALM BEACH GARDENS POLICE OFFICERS SAY THEY RESPONDED TO THE BARNES AND NOBLE SHORTLY BEFORE 8:00 ON MONDAY NIGHT, AND THAT IS WHEN THEY FOUND THE VICTIM. 65 YEAR OLD RITA LANTANA, LYING ON THE FLOOR THAT SHE WAS. THEY SAY THAT SHE WAS STABBED IN THE BACK AND THAT SHE LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL. AND IN THE ARREST REPORT, POLICE SAY MOORE TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS INSIDE OF THAT. BARNES AND NOBLE CHARGING HIS PHONE, AND THE SUSPECT TOLD POLICE THAT HE HAD NO PRIOR INTERACTION WITH THE VICTIM. THE REPORT ALSO SAYS THIS QUOTE. ANTONIO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL BUILDUP THAT LED TO HIS FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE KICKING IN, WITH THE VICTIM BEING THE CLOSEST PERSON INSIDE OF THAT STORE. POLICE SAY THEY FOUND MOORE SHORTLY AFTER, AND WITNESSES SAY THAT HE LEFT THE AREA AGAIN. MOORE IS SCHEDULED TO MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE BEFORE A JUDGE AT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY JAIL. IN JUST A SHORT MOMENT, WE WILL HAVE A CREW THERE AND WE’LL HAVE THE LATE
Deadly stabbing at Palm Beach Gardens Barnes & Noble: Suspect arrested
Updated: 11:45 AM EST Dec 24, 2025
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Palm Beach Gardens police are investigating a deadly stabbing at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Legacy Avenue. On Dec. 22, 2025, at approximately 7:53 p.m., officers responded to the store at 11380 Legacy Ave. after reports of a stabbing.Responding officers found the victim, identified as Rita B. Loncharich, 65, inside the store and immediately rendered aid. She was transported to a local hospital by Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue, where she later died from her injuries.Witnesses told investigators the suspect stabbed the victim and fled the store. The suspect, identified as Antonio R. Moore, 40, was located by investigators a short time later.Police say Moore confessed to stabbing Loncharich inside the store without prior interaction or motive. Moore told investigators he acted on a sudden “fight-or-flight” impulse, using a fixed-blade knife from his jacket. He fled to nearby woods, where officers arrested him. Moore now faces a charge of first-degree premeditated murder. Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. —
Palm Beach Gardens police are investigating a deadly stabbing at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Legacy Avenue. On Dec. 22, 2025, at approximately 7:53 p.m., officers responded to the store at 11380 Legacy Ave. after reports of a stabbing.
Responding officers found the victim, identified as Rita B. Loncharich, 65, inside the store and immediately rendered aid. She was transported to a local hospital by Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue, where she later died from her injuries.
Witnesses told investigators the suspect stabbed the victim and fled the store. The suspect, identified as Antonio R. Moore, 40, was located by investigators a short time later.
Police say Moore confessed to stabbing Loncharich inside the store without prior interaction or motive. Moore told investigators he acted on a sudden “fight-or-flight” impulse, using a fixed-blade knife from his jacket. He fled to nearby woods, where officers arrested him.
Moore now faces a charge of first-degree premeditated murder.
Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
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