A routine morning at a Nebraska Walmart turned into a chaotic and violent scene when officers were forced to open fire to stop a woman accused of abducting and injuring a young child.
Authorities in Omaha say the incident began shortly after 9 a.m., when dispatchers received reports of a woman armed with a large knife inside the store, per the New York Post.
According to the Omaha Police Department, the suspect — identified as Noemi Guzman — had taken a weapon from inside the store before approaching a shopper and a 3-year-old child.
Investigators say surveillance footage showed Guzman confronting the child’s guardian in an aisle while holding the knife.
She allegedly forced the adult to move through the store while the toddler remained in a shopping cart, ultimately leading them outside into the parking lot.
“The knife-wielding woman ‘took possession of the child, essentially kidnapping the child,’” Deputy Chief Scott Gray said.
Responding officers quickly located Guzman in the parking lot, where she was still near the cart with the child.
Police said she continued to make threats and refused repeated commands to drop the weapon.
Authorities say the situation escalated when Guzman injured the toddler.
Officers then fired their weapons, striking her.
The child’s guardian and a bystander immediately rushed to remove the boy from the cart and began providing aid.
Guzman was given life-saving measures at the scene but was later pronounced dead, police said.
The child was transported to a hospital with injuries, including a significant cut to his face and another to his hand.
Officials said he is expected to survive.
In a statement, Todd Schmaderer praised the officers’ actions.
“The responding officers acted with professionalism and direct action to intervene and save a child’s life,” he said.
“The community can be reassured in knowing that Omaha police officers stand ready to act with courage and decisiveness in the most serious situations to protect the public.”
The case is now under investigation by the department’s officer-involved investigations team, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and local sheriff’s offices.
Police also acknowledged the loss of life in the incident.
“The Omaha Police Department offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Guzman during this difficult time,” the department said in a statement.
