A woman was fatally shot by police on Tuesday after allegedly cutting a 3-year-old boy outside a Walmart in eastern Nebraska during an apparent kidnapping attempt, authorities said.
Two officers arriving at the scene found the woman—later identified as Noemi Guzman, 31—in the parking lot standing beside a shopping cart with the child inside.
"Ms. Guzman was making multiple threats with the knife," officials said. "Officers gave multiple verbal commands for Ms. Guzman to drop the knife. She refused to drop the weapon and cut the boy."
The officers shot Guzman, and a bystander and the boy's guardian immediately removed the child from the shopping cart. Despite life-saving efforts, Guzman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The boy, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a local children’s hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to survive.
After reviewing store surveillance footage, investigators determined Guzman had shoplifted the knife inside Walmart, confronted the child and his guardian in an aisle, and then forced them out into the parking lot before officers arrived.
"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."
Following Tuesday's incident, the Omaha Police Department said the two officers involved have been placed on paid leave while the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed or recorded Guzman's actions during the incident has been asked to contact the department directly at 402-444-4877 and reference case number AA31063.