Officers from the Omaha Police Department fatally shot a 31-year-old woman, identified as Noemi Guzman, after she reportedly threatened a young child with a knife in a Walmart parking lot on Tuesday, April 14.
According to police, the woman was armed with a kitchen knife, made repeated threats, and ignored multiple commands to drop the weapon. Authorities said she injured the three-year-old boy before officers opened fire.
The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. when police responded to emergency calls about an armed woman inside a Walmart store. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Guzman taking a knife from the store and confronting the child and his caregiver, forcing them toward the parking lot.
Police said officers discharged their weapons after the situation escalated. Attempts were made to provide medical assistance, but Guzman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The child was later taken to Children’s Nebraska, where he received treatment for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The officers involved, identified as Brian Seaton and Roger Oseka, have been placed on administrative leave in line with departmental policy. Investigations are ongoing, involving the Nebraska State Patrol and local sheriff’s offices.
The boy’s mother, Sara Hillman, later shared that her son required multiple stitches but is recovering. She stated that the suspect was not known to the family.
Authorities also disclosed that the woman had a prior history of arrests and had previously been found not responsible by reason of insanity in an earlier case. The shooting will be reviewed by a grand jury, as required under Nebraska law.