A second emergency phone call informed police that there was a woman armed with a \u201clarge kitchen knife\u201d with a young child.<\/p>\n
Once on the scene, two officers approached the woman later identified as 31-year-old Noemi Guzman, who was standing with a shopping trolley with three-year-old Cyler Hillman inside it.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Omaha police said Ms Guzman was refusing to stand down.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs Guzman was making multiple threats with the knife. Officers gave multiple verbal commands for Ms Guzman to drop the knife,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n
As the toddler\u2019s guardian watched on, police said Ms Guzman continued to refuse to drop the knife, before cutting the boy. That\u2019s when both attending officers fired their guns.<\/p>\n
SEE PICTURES FROM THE SCENE BELOW<\/p>\n
\u201cShe refused to drop the weapon and cut the boy,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n
The two patrol officers fired their service weapons striking Ms Guzman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe child\u2019s guardian, along with a bystander, immediately removed the child from the cart and rendered aid to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers began lifesaving measures on Ms Guzman; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.<\/p>\n
After reviewing CCTV footage, Omaha police understand that Ms Guzman used a knife she shoplifted from Walmart during the incident, and revealed what they believe to be a kidnapping plot.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestigators later determined through store surveillance footage that Ms Guzman had shoplifted the knife from inside the store.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe then approached the child and guardian in a shopping aisle, brandished the knife, and forced the guardian to walk ahead of the cart while the child remained inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs Guzman directed them through the store and into the parking lot. Officers arrived shortly after Ms. Guzman, the guardian, and child exited the store and began walking east toward the parking lot entrance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyrel was rushed to hospital following the ordeal. His injuries are considered non-life threatening.<\/p>\n
As part of their press release, Omaha police shared two terrifying still images from one of the officer\u2019s body camera footage.<\/p>\n
![\"Body](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0b6e6e3df6067d5db81eea99e90517c401ce82b7.jpg\")
Body cam footage release by Omaha Police Credit: Omaha Police Department via Facebook![\"Body-cam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/74ee59128fd2aa4e727bdac4e2876e0f38f2d6f9.jpg\")
Body-cam footage released by Omaha Police. Credit: Omaha Police Department via Facebook<\/p>\n
John W. Ewing Jr, Omaha\u2019s mayor, said the actions of police had prevented a larger tragedy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful for the department\u2019s professionalism and transparency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Omaha police said the investigation into the incident remains ongoing as they review both surveillance footage and vision captured by the attending officer\u2019s body cameras.<\/p>\n
Both attending officers have been placed on \u201cpaid critical leave\u201d which is standard under local policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will be interviewed at a later date, and the Omaha Police Department Public Information Office will provide an updated news release in the coming days,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n
Cyler\u2019s mother Sara Hillman has spoken out about the horrifying incident in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n
\u201cA situation unfolded that no family should ever have to experience. Our 3-year-old was put in a life-threatening situation by someone who should have never been in a position to harm anyone,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something we are still trying to process as parents, and something I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll ever fully understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Cyler](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ac92483a97e7b7724a13e56738df7f4c76713c84.jpg\")
Cyler in hospital after the Wal-Mart incident. Credit: Facebook via Sarah Hillman![\"Cyler's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1dca474879165b9d79e07702be5e24fa9b32f809.jpg\")
Cyler’s stiches after the incident. Credit: Facebook via Sarah Hillman<\/p>\n
Ms Hillman said her son was extremely brave throughout the scary encounter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I can\u2019t stop thinking about\u2026 he didn\u2019t even cry.<\/p>\n
![\"Cyler](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/56e0ca3e0af4922bdce3c91092443716a3f9ea61.jpg\")
Cyler with his father after the Wal-Mart incident. Credit: Facebook via Sarah Hillman\/eyJpdiI6IjNqVnoyRGllT1Fzd3ZkTEw2WVFQYkE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiTjRodkw5ZXlBTWlFNTAxWlArb1MvVzQ2NE4yT2hKRE5JMzQwdWxCcWhGRVNTeVExUTlkMW1ma0tTT0QyWVVGQUNGZnBCSCs4WjRMd1pLcERUU3VVRkE9PSIsIm1hYyI6IjFkMzFjZDljNjVmNzc5ZWVhNjI5YjY2ODkwOWQ4YzIzMTg0ODg5M2UxMDRkOTkxYjA3OWFiOTE1ZjkzOGVjN2IiLCJ0YWciOiIifQ==<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen officers asked him what he needed, all he said was he wanted his daddy\u2026 and a bandaid so he could go home. That\u2019s who he is.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe suffered a major facial injury along with a wound to his hand, requiring approximately 17\u201320 stitches in his face and additional stitches in his hand. The physical healing will take time\u2014but the emotional healing for all of us will take even longer.\u201d<\/p>\n