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Man Claims 'Fight or Flight' After Bookstore Stabbing
24 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A 65-year-old woman was fatally stabbed at a Florida bookstore.
- The alleged attacker cited a 'fight or flight' response for the stabbing.
- The suspect was apprehended near the scene shortly after the incident.
A 65-year-old woman was tragically stabbed to death inside a Barnes & Noble in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Monday, December 22. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Antonio Moore, was arrested for first-degree premeditated murder following the incident.
According to an affidavit, Moore confessed to stabbing the victim, Rita Loncharich, in the back with a knife. He stated there was no prior relationship or discernible motive, attributing the violent act to an "internal buildup" that triggered a "fight or flight response," with Loncharich being the nearest person present.
Authorities responded to the scene and found Loncharich with the knife still in her back. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Moore fled the store but was located by law enforcement approximately 1,500 feet away. He reportedly arrived in Palm Beach Gardens from Georgia via bus about a week prior and is currently held without bond.
