Lawsuit filed in Fatal Palm Beach Gardens Barnes & Noble stabbing

Morgan & Morgan has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Jorge Loncharich, the husband of Rita Loncharich, who died after being stabbed while shopping at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

On December 22, 2025, Rita was finishing up her holiday shopping at the Barnes & Noble off PGA Boulevard on Legacy Avenue when Antonio Moore allegedly violently and without provocation stabbed her in the back with a knife. Tragically, Rita succumbed to her injuries later that day. Moore is currently in custody awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder.

The lawsuit states that, despite the shopping center’s ongoing issues with loitering and trespassing on and around the property, the Legacy Place (the shopping center owner), Trademark (the management company) and Barnes & Noble failed to take necessary action to maintain a safe premises. Records from the Palm Beach Gardens police department allegedly reflect a pattern of security-related calls for incidents occurring at Legacy Place.

A copy of the complaint is attached, and a statement from Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Thomas Hasty follows:

“Days before Christmas, Rita was brutally stabbed to death in an attack that we believe was preventable. Despite a documented history of loitering, trespassing, and prior security incidents, the defendants allegedly ignored the risks and failed to implement basic security measures to keep shoppers safe. This tragedy shattered a family and stole a beloved mother from them. Rita deserved better, and we will fight tirelessly to ensure her family receives justice."