Officers shoot, kill woman attacking child with knife in kidnapping situation at Walmart: police
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) – Police say a woman kidnapped a 3-year-old boy at knifepoint before she was shot by officers at a Nebraska Walmart Tuesday morning.
The Omaha Police Department said the situation started around 9:15 a.m. About a dozen police vehicles were seen outside the store after officers were called to assist.
According to Omaha Police Deputy Chief Scott Gray, a woman had taken the child from their caretaker, forcing the child to walk outside while she followed with a shopping cart.
Gray said arriving officers spotted the woman inside the store, armed with a knife. Officers made contact with her, but she began “swiping” at the child.
The woman then attacked the child, and officers shot her, Gray said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The child was taken to the hospital for lacerations to their face and hand.
Police identified the woman in a news release as 31-year-old Noemi Guzman.
Two years ago, Guzman was arrested after her father’s home was set on fire and was also accused of breaking into a church rectory in South Omaha. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and assigned a treatment plan in 2025. She was scheduled for an annual review on June 12.
Police says the officer involved in the shooting have been placed on paid critical incident leave and will be interviewed at a later date, per department policy.
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