Nebraska Woman Fatally Shot by Police After Alleged Kidnapping, Child Attack at Walmart

Update 4/15/2026: Information on the two involved officers is included below:

Officer Brian Seaton, Uniform Patrol Bureau, 22 years of service

Officer Roger Oseka, Uniform Patrol Bureau, 22 years of service

The Douglas County Attorney’s Office has been advised of this investigation.

Pursuant to Nebraska Revised Statute 29-1401, this case will be presented to a grand jury once the investigation is complete. The law requires a grand jury to be summoned when a person dies while in the custody of, or while being apprehended by law enforcement.

The Omaha Police Department will adhere to the grand jury process outlined in Nebraska Revised Statute 29-1407.01 with regard to the release of any evidentiary exhibits to include Body Worn Camera footage and transcripts from a returned “no true bill” grand jury proceeding. Per the state statute found in subsection (C), a copy of the exhibits and transcript “shall be available for public review upon written request to the clerk of the district court”.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Previously released information:

The Omaha Police Department’s Officer-Involved Investigations Team is investigating an incident that occurred Tuesday morning leaving one woman dead and a child injured.

Uniform Patrol Bureau officers responded to Wal-Mart at 1606 S 72nd Street for a “nature unknown” emergency call at 9:13 a.m. Initial information provided to 911 was from a female caller requesting police assistance. This female stopped providing information to the call taker. An additional 911 caller indicated there was a woman armed with a “large kitchen knife” with a young child.

A two-officer patrol unit arrived at the location where the officers immediately exited their cruiser to approach the armed woman, later identified as Noemi Guzman, 31, who was near the southern parking lot entry standing by a shopping cart with a 3-year-old boy inside. 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. The child’s guardian, along with a bystander, immediately removed the child from the cart and rendered aid to him. Officers began lifesaving measures on Ms. Guzman; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy was taken to Children’s Hospital by Omaha Fire Department medics for treatment. The boy’s injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Investigators later determined through store surveillance footage that Ms. Guzman had shoplifted the knife from inside the store. She 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. Ms. 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.

“The responding officers acted with professionalism and direct action to intervene and save a child’s life,” said Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer. “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 W. Ewing Jr. thanked police for quick action that prevented a larger tragedy.

“I am grateful for the department’s professionalism and transparency,” he said.

The investigation remains ongoing. The Omaha Police Department Officer-Involved Investigations Team is being assisted by investigators from the Nebraska State Patrol, Douglas and Sarpy County Sheriff’s Offices.

Various aspects of this incident were captured on officers’ body-worn cameras and other available surveillance.

The Omaha Police Department offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Guzman during this difficult time.

The involved officers have been placed on paid critical incident leave, per department policy. They 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.