Family says 3-year-old boy recovering after being slashed by knife at Omaha Walmart
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Omaha Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting following a kidnapping in central Omaha.
Around 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, officers were sent to the Walmart on 72nd and Pine streets after 31-year-old Noemi Guzman kidnapped a 3-year-old boy, according to the police department.
At a press conference, OPD Deputy Chief Scott Gray said when officers arrived, Guzman was holding a “large kitchen knife” to the boy near the southern parking lot entry.
Gray said the officers told Guzman to drop the knife several times before she started “swiping” the knife at the child — who was in a shopping cart at the time — cutting him across the face.
OPD said the two patrol officers shot Guzman, and the child’s caretaker and a bystander immediately pulled the child from the cart.
The police department shared images from an officer’s body camera as he points a weapon at Guzman. 
Channel 8 chose to blur the bodies of Guzman and the boy because of the graphic nature, but the photos show Guzman swinging the knife at the young boy.
The officers performed life-saving measures on Guzman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to OPD.
The child is being treated at Children’s Hospital for a “rather large laceration” across the left side of his face, said Gray. The boy also has a cut on his hand.
The boy’s family gave Channel 8 an update, saying 3-year-old Cyler had surgery on his face. He is now home recovering, but they said it will be a long road forward.
Cyler’s parents describe him as carefree and energetic. They said he loves to be outside and is a “cowboy.”
After an investigation, OPD said Guzman shoplifted the knife from inside the store before approaching the child and guardian in a shopping aisle.
Guzman then brandished the knife and forced the guardian to walk ahead of the cart while the child remained inside.
OPD said Guzman directed them through the store and into the parking lot. Officers arrived shortly after Guzman, the guardian and the child exited the store and started walking east toward the parking lot entrance.
The investigation remains ongoing.
OPD said this was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.
The officers involved have been placed on critical incident leave per department policy.
OPD’s press conference can be seen below:
This is a developing story. Check back with Channel 8 for updates.
