WPBF 25 NEWS STARTS WITH BREAKING NEWS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I’M YASMINE JULMISSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE WANT TO GET RIGHT TO THAT. BREAKING NEWS INVOLVING A WOMAN STABBED TO DEATH INSIDE A PALM BEACH GARDENS BOOKSTORE. OUR CALEB CALIFANO IS LIVE OUTSIDE THE BARNES AND NOBLE AND LEGACY PLACE, A VERY POPULAR AREA. CALEB, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? MORE ABOUT THE VICTIM AND THE SUSPECT. CALEB. GOOD AFTERNOON. THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. WE DO KNOW THAT THE BARNES AND NOBLE BEHIND ME HERE IN PALM BEACH GARDENS IS BACK OPEN TODAY. WE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS EARLIER THIS MORNING WHO SAY THEY’RE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED BY WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE. NOW, THE PALM BEACH GARDENS POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES TELL US THE STABBING HAPPENED HERE JUST BEFORE 8:00 LAST NIGHT. AND JUST TO CONFIRM, IT WAS INSIDE THE BARNES AND NOBLE WHEN OFFICERS WENT INSIDE THE STORE, THEY FOUND THE VICTIM, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 65 YEAR OLD RITA LANTANA LAUNDRY. THEY IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RENDER AID AND TRANSPORTED HER TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL, WHERE POLICE SAY SHE LATER DIED FROM HER INJURIES. POLICE HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT, WHO IS 40 YEAR OLD ANTONIO MOORE, WHO IMMEDIATELY LEFT THE SCENE AFTER THE STABBING. HE WAS LOCATED BY INVESTIGATORS A SHORT TIME AFTER. HE IS NOW AT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY JAIL CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER. WE HAVE LOOKED INTO HIS PAST AND HAVE NOT FOUND ANY PRIOR CHARGES. IT’S IT’S HORRIBLE. I’VE LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. IT USED TO BE A REALLY NICE LITTLE COMMUNITY AND I CAN’T IMAGINE GOING INTO A BARNES AND NOBLE AND HAVING TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. NOW WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO BARNES AND NOBLE CORPORATE ABOUT THE STABBING. THEY SAY THEY DO NOT COMMENT ON ACTIVE POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. FOR NOW, WE’RE LIVE IN PALM BEACH GARDENS. CALEB CALIFANO, WPBF 25 NEWS SOMETHING YOU NEVER HEAR RIGHT INSIDE THAT BARNES AND NOBLE STORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS FOR YOU ALL DAY LONG. STAY UP TO DATE. EVEN IF YOU’RE AWAY FROM YOUR TV WITH T
Deadly stabbing at Palm Beach Gardens Barnes & Noble: Suspect in custody
Updated: 5:32 PM EST Dec 23, 2025
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.This is an active and ongoing investigation. Authorities are still working to determine a motive for the attack and will release more information as it becomes available.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.
This is an active and ongoing investigation. Authorities are still working to determine a motive for the attack and will release more information as it becomes available.
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.