Lacramioara Beldie Obituary, Death – Officials have released the identities of the individuals involved in a fatal stabbing that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Portage Park, Chicago. The victim was 54-year-old Lacramioara Beldie, who lived on the 6000 block of North Harding Avenue. The suspect, 57-year-old Constantin Beldie, resided on the 5700 block of West Giddings Street.
The tragic incident, which took place around 2:20 p.m. in the 5600 block of West Leland Avenue, also resulted in an off-duty Chicago police detective being wounded. The detective reportedly witnessed the stabbing in progress and intervened, firing shots at the suspect. In the process, he sustained a graze wound to his leg but managed to stop the immediate attack. Unfortunately, Lacramioara Beldie succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The detective was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect fled the scene but was later discovered deceased inside a vehicle parked in the 5500 block of West Leland Avenue. Authorities have not yet disclosed the circumstances of his death.
The incident, which occurred just a block away from Prussing Elementary School, deeply unsettled the local community. Residents expressed fear and concern about the proximity of such a violent event to a school. Neighbor Thomas Desenfants described the chilling moment of the attack, saying, “I heard her scream, then I heard the gunshots, and that’s when my heart sank—it was a blood-curdling, heart-dropping type of scream.” Another neighbor, Dolores Rosenthal, shared her worries, stating, “[I’m] shocked and very upset because if it happened once, it can always happen again, and that scares me.”
The case is under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which is reviewing the shooting involving the off-duty detective. Further details about the incident, including a potential motive, have not yet been released.