A woman was shot and killed by police after she reportedly threatened and injured a child with a knife outside a supermarket. Officers in Omaha, Nebraska, were called to the Walmart on South 72nd Street at around 9.13am on Tuesday following what was initially described as a “nature unknown” emergency.
According to the Omaha Police Department, the first 911 caller asked for help but stopped giving information during the call. A second caller then reported that a woman armed with a large kitchen knife was with a young child. Police said Guzman was holding the knife and making threats. Officers repeatedly ordered Guzman to drop the weapon, but she refused, according to police. Authorities said Guzman then cut the child, prompting two officers to open fire. Guzman was struck by the gunfire and died at the scene. A bystander and the child’s guardian pulled the boy from the shopping trolley and began giving first aid while officers attempted life-saving measures on Guzman.
Court records reportedly show that Noemi Guzman, 31, had a history of mental illness (Image: Omaha Police Department)
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The child was later taken to a children’s hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening after suffering a cut to his cheek.
Investigators later reviewed Walmart surveillance footage and said Guzman had allegedly stolen the knife from inside the store before the incident unfolded.
Police described the incident as an apparently random attack.
Body-worn camera footage later showed Guzman allegedly wielding the knife at the child before officers opened fire.
Police said she approached the child and his guardian while they were in an aisle, brandished the knife and forced the guardian to walk ahead while the boy remained in the trolley.
She then reportedly directed them out of the store and into the car park.
Officers had given repeated commands for Guzman to drop the weapon (Image: Omaha Police Department)
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer praised the officers involved and said their actions saved the child’s life.
He said: “The responding officers acted with professionalism and direct action to intervene and save a child’s life.”
Omaha Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. also commended the officers, saying their quick response had prevented an even greater tragedy.
The boy’s mother, Sara Hillman, later said she had been left wondering: “What if it could have gone a different way?”
His father, Casey Hillman, urged parents to “hold your children tight because you never know how it can turn out”, adding “Pay attention to what’s going on around you.”
The couple said their son, who would usually love being outdoors, was too frightened to go outside the following day.
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The two officers involved have been placed on paid leave while the investigation continues.
The Omaha Police Department’s Officer-Involved Investigations Team is leading the probe, assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol and local sheriff’s offices.
Police said parts of the incident were captured on body-worn cameras and surveillance footage.
Court records reportedly show Guzman had a history of mental illness.
A woman with the same name was arrested in 2024 after allegedly attacking her father with a knife, trying to start a house fire and breaking into a Catholic church armed with a blade.
According to local reports, she was later found not responsible by “reason of insanity” and diagnosed with schizophrenia, and should remain under court supervision.
