The suspect, identified as Noemi Guzman, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene following an intervention by officers who responded to the violent incident. The abduction occurred inside a Walmart where the suspect, Noemi Guzman, approached a female shopper and a young boy, displayed a large knife, and took possession of the child, according to Deputy Chief Scott Gray. Omaha police reported that Guzman snatched three-year-old Cyler Hillman from the store while his mother Sara was shopping.
The suspect then ordered the mother to leave the store and walk in front of the shopping cart while she controlled it with the child, according to Omaha police. Guzman held the knife to the child's body and issued commands to the mother as they headed to the parking lot, Omaha police stated. Police intercepted the suspect shortly after she, the boy, and his mother exited the store, Omaha police reported.
Officers gave multiple verbal commands for the suspect to drop the knife, but she refused and cut the boy, according to Omaha police. Deputy Chief Scott Gray said the suspect began swiping the knife at the child, cutting him across the face, after police arrived and gave commands. In the immediate aftermath, the mother and a bystander immediately removed the child from the cart and provided aid, Omaha police reported.
They kind of just purposely but casually walk out of the store, so I don't think anybody was actually looking at them as being a suspect of anything.
The child, Cyler Hillman, was taken to a hospital with lacerations on his face and hand, required surgery and stitches, and is expected to survive, according to Omaha police and Deputy Chief Scott Gray. Police attempted life-saving measures on the suspect, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, Omaha police reported. Two officers fired their service weapons at the suspect, killing her, according to Omaha police.
It is unclear why the suspect approached the toddler and his mother, and there is no indication they knew each other, according to Deputy Chief Scott Gray. The suspect, Noemi Guzman, was arrested in 2024 after her father's home was set on fire and accused of breaking into a church rectory, Omaha police reported. Guzman was found not guilty by reason of insanity and assigned a treatment plan, with an annual review scheduled for June 12 this year, according to Omaha police.
The Hillman family is shaken and in need of support, with a GoFundMe campaign created to help with medical bills, therapy, and daily expenses, according to a family loved one. Cyler's father was at a job interview during the attack and must now focus on his son's healing rather than work, creating financial stress, campaign organizer Tanya Gifford stated. Police are reviewing video from the store, and the event appears to be an isolated incident, according to Deputy Chief Scott Gray.
Due to Cyler's condition and the need for his father to be by his side during recovery and therapy, employment will have to wait.
The suspect shoplifted the knife from the Walmart before approaching the Hillman family, Omaha police reported. The Walmart was largely empty as police continued their investigation, and the actions inside the store wouldn't necessarily have drawn attention from other shoppers, Deputy Chief Scott Gray noted. The suspect and the mother had a verbal back-and-forth until police arrived on the scene, according to Deputy Chief Scott Gray.
The violent escalation unfolded rapidly as officers confronted Guzman in the parking lot, where she continued to wield the knife despite repeated commands to drop it. The child's injuries, while serious, were treated promptly at the hospital, and he is now recovering with his family. Authorities are piecing together the timeline of events, including how Guzman obtained the knife and her movements prior to the abduction.
The community has rallied around the Hillman family, with donations pouring in to assist with their immediate needs and long-term recovery efforts. Investigators are also examining Guzman's mental health history and recent activities to understand potential triggers for the attack. The police response has been described as necessary to prevent further harm, given the imminent threat to the child's life.
As the investigation continues, officials emphasize that this was an isolated incident with no ongoing danger to the public.