A woman was shot and killed by police after she injured a 3-year-old boy with a knife in a Walmart parking lot in Nebraska.
Officers responded around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, to the Omaha store after a 911 call for an unknown emergency, according to the Omaha Police Department. A second caller reported a woman armed with a large kitchen knife with a young child.
When officers arrived, they encountered 31-year-old Noemi Guzman near the southern entrance of the parking lot, standing beside a shopping cart with the child inside, police said. Guzman was making threats while holding the knife.
Officers gave repeated commands for Guzman to drop the weapon, but she refused and cut the child, police said. Two officers then fired their weapons, striking Guzman.
A bystander and the child’s guardian removed the boy from the cart and began rendering aid, while officers attempted lifesaving measures on Guzman, according to authorities. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The boy was taken to Children’s Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Investigators later determined Guzman had allegedly taken the knife from inside the store before approaching the child and his guardian in an aisle, according to police.
She then forced the guardian to walk ahead while the child remained in the cart and directed them out of the store and into the parking lot.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said officers acted to protect the child.
“The responding officers acted with professionalism and direct action to intervene and save a child’s life,” Schmaderer said.
Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. also praised the officers’ response, saying it helped prevent a larger tragedy.
The officers involved have been placed on paid critical incident leave, in accordance with department policy. The Omaha Police Department’s Officer-Involved Investigations Team is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and sheriff’s offices in Douglas and Sarpy counties.
Police said parts of the incident were captured on body-worn cameras and surveillance footage. Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed or recorded the incident to contact investigators.
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