Homeless drifter accused of killing Barnes & Noble Christmas shopper blamed ‘fight or flight’ outburst: report

The antheral accused of fatally stabbing a pistillate wrong a Palm Beach Gardens Barnes & Noble days earlier Christmas had traveled done respective states earlier entering Florida, authorities said Tuesday.

Palm Beach Gardens constabulary identified the fishy arsenic Antonio R. Moore, 40, and said helium is accused of sidesplitting 65-year-old Rita B. Loncharich wrong the fashionable bookstore concatenation connected the evening of Dec. 22.

Investigators said Moore is not a Florida nonmigratory and had moved done aggregate states, including done Georgia and North Carolina, earlier coming to Florida. Police said Moore boarded a autobus connected Dec. 15 from Orlando to Titusville and past traveled onward into Palm Beach County.

Antonio Moore, 40, is facing a execution complaint pursuing the alleged stabbing astatine a Barnes & Noble bookstore successful Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., connected Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (Google Maps/Palm Beach Sheriff's Office)

WOMAN IN FLORIDA BARNES & NOBLE STABBED TO DEATH, POLICE SEEK MOTIVE

According to the apprehension affidavit obtained by WFLX Fox 29, Moore entered the bookstore astir 7:29 p.m. and Loncharich arrived soon afterward. Investigators said Moore approached Loncharich successful a store aisle and stabbed her successful the backmost with a pocketknife.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Moore allegedly told constabulary a "fight oregon flight" effect overtook him, and helium took a fixed-blade weapon from his overgarment pocket. He reportedly told constabulary that helium stabbed Loncharich due to the fact that she was the closest idiosyncratic to him astatine the clip and said helium did not person immoderate anterior enactment with her.

A Barnes & Noble determination successful San Diego, Calif.  (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Bystanders helped the unfortunate until archetypal responders arrived, the section outlet reported. Loncharich was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center, wherever she died during surgery.

MAN WITH VIOLENT CRIMINAL HISTORY ON PAROLE ALLEGEDLY STABS TEEN TO DEATH: OFFICIALS

Police received a 911 telephone astatine 7:52 p.m. and located Moore respective blocks from the country minutes later. He was taken into custody without incident.

Moore, who constabulary accidental is homeless, told investigators helium had nary anterior narration with the unfortunate and offered nary motive for the attack. According to authorities, helium admitted to sitting successful the store charging his telephone conscionable earlier the stabbing.

Jail records from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office show that Moore was booked connected a complaint of first-degree premeditated murder. He is being held without bond.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department said it is searching for a motive successful the Barnes & Noble stabbing. (Palm Beach Gardens Police Department)

Local household members and assemblage members described Loncharich arsenic a "kind, gentle" idiosyncratic whose beingness was chopped abbreviated during what should person been a regular vacation outing.

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.