***WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC DETAILS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED***Omaha police identified the woman who slashed a 3-year-old boy during an attempted abduction at a Walmart.Officers arrived at the Walmart, located near 72nd and Pine streets, at 9:20 a.m. after receiving a call asking for police, Omaha police said.Previous coverage: Police kill woman who slashed 3-year-old during kidnapping attempt at Omaha Walmart Investigators said officers arrived at the location and immediately found 31-year-old Noemi Guzman near the southern parking lot entry, standing by a shopping cart with the child inside.Omaha police said Guzman was making multiple threats with the knife, and officers gave multiple verbal commands for her to drop the knife. She refused to drop it and cut the boy, officials said.The two officers fired their service weapons and hit Guzman, Omaha police said. A caretaker for the child and a bystander immediately removed the child from the cart and rendered aid.Omaha family gives update on boy slashed during attempted abductionOfficials said the officers began lifesaving measures on Guzman, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Omaha police said it appears the child will survive and is being treated at the hospital. As of Tuesday afternoon, the mother of the child told KETV that the boy is out of surgery.Investigators said store surveillance footage shows Guzman had shoplifted a large kitchen knife from inside the store. She approached the child and the caretaker in a shopping aisle, showing the knife and forcing the caretaker to walk ahead of the cart while the child remained inside.Guzman directed them through the store and into the parking lot, Omaha police said. Officers arrived at the scene shortly after Guzman, the caretaker and the child exited the store and started walking toward the parking lot entrance.’Unacceptable’: Walmart condemns suspect’s violent actions, working with Omaha police after deadly incident”The responding officers acted with professionalism and direct action to intervene and save a child’s life,” Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said in a statement. “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.”Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. thanked the officers for their quick action.”I am grateful for the department’s professionalism and transparency,” Ewing said.The incident is still under investigation. Omaha police said the officers have been placed on paid critical incident leave, as is department policy.Officials said moments from the incident were captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras and other surveillance cameras.Omaha police asked any witnesses who observed or recorded Guzman’s actions during the incident to contact the department at 402-444-4877. Omaha police have also confirmed to KETV that officers had contact with the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Noemi Guzman, Tuesday morning before everything unfolded at Walmart.It’s not clear when or where that interaction took place. Omaha police said Guzman is the same woman accused of stabbing her father and breaking into the rectory of an Omaha church.In 2024, investigators said Guzman doused her father with a flammable liquid and cut him with a knife.She then reportedly left and broke into St. Francis Cabrini Church, where investigators said she had a knife and was destroying property in the rectory.A priest inside barricaded himself in a second-floor room and called 911. Omaha police said Guzman broke through the door with a knife just as crews were getting the priest out through the window.Guzman pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, arson, burglary, and criminal mischief. She was later found not responsible by reason of insanity. The case is still open. KETV Investigates is continuing to examine the court documents.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
OMAHA, Neb. —
***WARNING: THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC DETAILS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED***
Omaha police identified the woman who slashed a 3-year-old boy during an attempted abduction at a Walmart.
Officers arrived at the Walmart, located near 72nd and Pine streets, at 9:20 a.m. after receiving a call asking for police, Omaha police said.
Previous coverage: Police kill woman who slashed 3-year-old during kidnapping attempt at Omaha Walmart
Investigators said officers arrived at the location and immediately found 31-year-old Noemi Guzman near the southern parking lot entry, standing by a shopping cart with the child inside.
Omaha police said Guzman was making multiple threats with the knife, and officers gave multiple verbal commands for her to drop the knife. She refused to drop it and cut the boy, officials said.
The two officers fired their service weapons and hit Guzman, Omaha police said. A caretaker for the child and a bystander immediately removed the child from the cart and rendered aid.
Omaha family gives update on boy slashed during attempted abduction
Officials said the officers began lifesaving measures on Guzman, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Omaha police said it appears the child will survive and is being treated at the hospital. As of Tuesday afternoon, the mother of the child told KETV that the boy is out of surgery.
Investigators said store surveillance footage shows Guzman had shoplifted a large kitchen knife from inside the store. She approached the child and the caretaker in a shopping aisle, showing the knife and forcing the caretaker to walk ahead of the cart while the child remained inside.
Guzman directed them through the store and into the parking lot, Omaha police said. Officers arrived at the scene shortly after Guzman, the caretaker and the child exited the store and started walking toward the parking lot entrance.
‘Unacceptable’: Walmart condemns suspect’s violent actions, working with Omaha police after deadly incident
“The responding officers acted with professionalism and direct action to intervene and save a child’s life,” Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said in a statement. “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.”
Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. thanked the officers for their quick action.
“I am grateful for the department’s professionalism and transparency,” Ewing said.
The incident is still under investigation. Omaha police said the officers have been placed on paid critical incident leave, as is department policy.
Officials said moments from the incident were captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras and other surveillance cameras.
Omaha police asked any witnesses who observed or recorded Guzman’s actions during the incident to contact the department at 402-444-4877.
Omaha police have also confirmed to KETV that officers had contact with the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Noemi Guzman, Tuesday morning before everything unfolded at Walmart.
It’s not clear when or where that interaction took place.
Omaha police said Guzman is the same woman accused of stabbing her father and breaking into the rectory of an Omaha church.
In 2024, investigators said Guzman doused her father with a flammable liquid and cut him with a knife.
She then reportedly left and broke into St. Francis Cabrini Church, where investigators said she had a knife and was destroying property in the rectory.
A priest inside barricaded himself in a second-floor room and called 911. Omaha police said Guzman broke through the door with a knife just as crews were getting the priest out through the window.
Guzman pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, arson, burglary, and criminal mischief. She was later found not responsible by reason of insanity. The case is still open. KETV Investigates is continuing to examine the court documents.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |