The widow of a Barnes & Noble customer, who was reportedly stabbed by a mentally unstable homeless man, is taking legal action against the mall’s owners and management as well as the bookstore chain.
Rita Roncharic’s death followed what the lawsuit describes as an ongoing series of alarming incidents at the shopping complex. The wrongful death suit was filed Tuesday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court by her husband, Jorge Roncharic.
Officials reported that a 65-year-old woman was fatally attacked on December 22, 2025, while browsing magazines at Barnes & Noble during her Christmas shopping.
Antonio Moore, who was 40 years old during the incident, had recently traveled to Florida from Georgia, arriving just days before the attack, according to the affidavit.
Records indicate that over 60 documented police incidents have occurred at the Barnes & Noble in Palm Beach Gardens’ Legacy Place Shopping Center within the last five years, according to the lawsuit filed by Morgan & Morgan PA on behalf of Roncharic.
The complaint highlights police records showing various calls, including 16 concerning “nuisance customers,” 23 related to shoplifting, nine regarding “suspicious persons,” and numerous welfare checks and suspicious incident reports.
It claims that there had been a persistent issue with criminal activity, loitering, and altercations involving transient individuals at the Legacy Place and Barnes & Noble establishments.
The lawsuit argues that the defendants were aware, or ought to have been aware, of the potential for criminal incidents given the reported history of activity around the property.
The complaint names four defendants: LSREF6 Legacy LLC, Trademark Property Company Florida, property manager Ana Torres, and Barnes & Noble, Inc. Each is accused of inadequate security measures and negligence in ensuring the safety of patrons.
“The defendants knew or should have recognized that failing to implement proper safety protocols could lead to serious harm or fatality,” the complaint asserts.
On the morning of the stabbing, Moore was spotted sleeping outside a nearby establishment, after which management requested his departure. Although police were called, Moore left before their arrival, returning to Barnes & Noble later to charge his phone without making any purchases before the attack.
Requests for comments from LSREF6 Legacy LLC, Trademark Property Company Florida, and Barnes & Noble went unanswered. An automated reply from Ana Torres mentioned that Legacy Place is under new management, directing inquiries to a new property manager.
Moore indicated that he did not know Roncharic and had no clear motive for the attack, stating he acted against her simply because she was closest to him at that moment. Following the incident, Roncharic managed to call her husband and inform him of the stabbing; she was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Surveillance footage showed Moore fleeing the store into adjacent woods, and he was apprehended shortly thereafter. The state has opted not to pursue the death penalty for Moore, who could still face life imprisonment if found guilty, according to recent court documents.
“I believe the decision not to seek the death penalty may relate to the suspect’s mental health,” an ex-Florida attorney mentioned in an interview, noting the legal concerns surrounding executing someone deemed mentally ill.
Currently, Moore is in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail facing first-degree murder charges, although he has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial without a set date.
