Authorities revealed Tuesday that the individual accused of the tragic stabbing of a woman in a Palm Beach Gardens Barnes & Noble just days before Christmas had journeyed across several states before arriving in Florida.

The Palm Beach Gardens police have identified the suspect as 40-year-old Antonio R. Moore, alleging that he is responsible for the death of 65-year-old Rita B. Loncharich inside the well-known bookstore on the night of December 22.

Investigators noted that Moore is not a resident of Florida and had traveled through various states, including Georgia and North Carolina, before reaching Florida. According to police reports, Moore took a bus from Orlando to Titusville on December 15 and continued his journey into Palm Beach County.

Antonio Moore, 40, currently faces murder charges following the alleged stabbing incident at the Barnes & Noble in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Monday, December 22, 2025. (Google Maps/Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office)

As detailed in the arrest affidavit accessed by WFLX Fox 29, Moore entered the bookstore at approximately 7:29 p.m., with Loncharich arriving shortly after. Investigators state that Moore approached Loncharich in one of the aisles and attacked her with a pocketknife, stabbing her in the back.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Moore allegedly told police a “fight or flight” response overtook him, and he took a fixed-blade knife from his jacket pocket. He reportedly told police that he stabbed Loncharich because she was the closest person to him at the time and said he did not have any prior interaction with her.

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

Bystanders helped the victim until first responders arrived, the local outlet reported. Loncharich was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where she died during surgery.

Police received a 911 call at 7:52 p.m. and located Moore several blocks from the scene minutes later. He was taken into custody without incident.

Moore, who police say is homeless, told investigators he had no prior relationship with the victim and offered no motive for the attack. According to authorities, he admitted to sitting in the store charging his phone just before the stabbing.

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

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

Local family members and community members described Loncharich as a “kind, gentle” person whose life was cut short during what should have been a routine holiday outing.

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