OMAHA, Neb. (TCN) — A woman has been fatally shot by police after allegedly attempting to take a toddler from his mother and slashing him across the face with a kitchen knife.
Police were called to a Walmart store April 14 for a report of a woman with a large kitchen knife, according to ABC News. Store surveillance footage allegedly showed the suspect, 31-year-old Noemi Guzman, take a knife from inside the store and then approach a woman shopping with her 3-year-old son.
Police said Guzman allegedly threatened the woman with the knife, forcing her to walk in front of her cart while the toddler stayed inside it. Omaha Deputy Chief Scott Gray alleged Guzman “took possession of the child, essentially kidnapping the child,” according to The Associated Press.
The mother, named as Sarah by the New York Post, reportedly had “some verbal back and forth” with Guzman outside before the police arrived. According to a press release from the police obtained by ABC News, “Ms. Guzman was making multiple threats with the knife. Officers gave multiple verbal commands for Ms. Guzman to drop the knife. She refused to drop the weapon and cut the boy. The two patrol officers fired their service weapons striking Ms. Guzman.”
Guzman died at the scene, per AP. The child, Cyler Hillman, underwent surgery at a children’s hospital for lacerations on his face and hands. The New York Post reports his parents describe him as their little cowboy and he is expected to make a full recovery.
Guzman, who had schizophrenia, reportedly had a criminal history, according to WOWT. In 2024, she allegedly set her father’s house on fire and then broke into a Catholic church armed with a knife while a priest hid upstairs. She was charged with four felonies in connection with the incident but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. In 2025, a judge ruled she should remain under court supervision.
KETV reports the April 14 incident was captured on authorities’ body-worn cameras and is still under investigation. The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid critical incident leave in accordance with the Omaha Police Department’s policy, according to People.
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