A 65-year-old woman has been killed in a shocking and apparently motiveless knife attack while shopping at a bookstore in Florida.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Rita Loncharich was browsing the shelves at a Barnes & Noble in Palm Beach Gardens on Monday night when she was stabbed in the back. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by ABC News, she was found unresponsive with the knife still in her back.
Police officers at the scene immediately rendered first aid before transporting her to a nearby hospital. Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries.
The Arrest and Alleged Confession
Surveillance footage from the store showed the alleged attacker, later identified as Antonio Moore, 40, running from the scene. He was arrested shortly afterwards in woodland near the bookstore.
Moore has been booked on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder. Court records show he made his first appearance on Wednesday and is being held without bond, with a further court date scheduled for next month.
In a chilling statement to police, Moore allegedly admitted to stabbing Loncharich with a fixed-blade knife. He claimed he heard her say 'he stabbed me' as he fled. The arrest affidavit states he told officers he had no motive for the attack, describing an 'internal build up' that triggered his 'fight or flight response'. He reportedly said Loncharich was simply the 'closest person inside the store'.
Background and Investigation
Moore informed police he had arrived in Palm Beach Gardens from Georgia approximately one week before the violent episode. He had reportedly entered the bookstore to charge his mobile phone.
The Palm Beach Gardens police are continuing their investigation. Barnes & Noble, in a statement to ABC, declined to comment, citing the active nature of the inquiry. The Daily Mail has also approached both the police force and the bookseller for further comment.
