Some last-minute Christmas shopping ended tragically in Florida with the death of a 65-year-old woman and mother, all because of her proximity to the suspect.
Rita Loncharich was attacked while browsing for books at the Barnes and Noble in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Monday, December 22, allegedly by Antonio Moore, 40, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Us Weekly.
Moore is now charged with first-degree premeditated murder for killing Loncharich, Us Weekly confirmed.
Moore admitted to stabbing Loncharich, and told police he did not interact with her before he used a fixed blade knife to stab her multiple times in the back.
“Antonio stated there was no prior interaction with Rita, or [a] motive as to why he stabbed Rita in the back,” the affidavit alleged. “Antonio stated there was an internal buildup that led to his fight or flight response kicking in with Rita being the closest person inside the store.”
The affidavit further alleged that Moore told investigators he heard Loncharich say, “He stabbed me” and “seemed to be shocked [about] the attack.”
First responders and police were called to the Barnes and Noble store shortly before 8 p.m.
When they found Loncharich, the knife was still lodged in her back.
She was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, dying from her injuries soon after arrival.
Moore allegedly fled the store following the stabbing, according to police.
Witnesses offered cops a description of Moore, and investigators located him about 1,500 feet from the store’s entrance.
Moore told investigators that he had been in Palm Beach Gardens for about a week, arriving from Georgia on a bus.
Moore is being held without bond. It was unclear Friday if he had entered a plea.
Moore has been appointed a public defender. USA Today reports that, as a policy, the office does not comment on open cases or had an attorney of record who could comment on the allegations.
Barnes and Noble did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.
Loncharich’s husband spoke off camera to CBS12. He asked not to be named but said that police told him the alleged attacker is a homeless person from Alabama, and that he is mentally ill. Police also told the grieving husband Moore had been living in a nearby woods and went to the Barnes and Noble that day to charge his phone.
Rita Loncharich’s husband also said his wife called him on her phone moments after the attack, telling him she had just been stabbed.
A GoFundMe campaign that was launched to help defray her funeral expenses said that Rita “was loved by so many.”
She “was killed in a senseless act of violence in the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Palm Beach Gardens. What should have been some holiday shopping, turned into a moment that forever changed the lives of those who knew and loved her, most especially her husband and daughter.”
Police said the investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone who may have information pertinent to the case is urged to contact the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department at (561) 799-4584.
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