A knife-wielding woman, suspected of attempting to kidnap a 3-year-old boy outside a Walmart in Nebraska, has a troubling history that includes periods of violence and mental health issues. Notably, she once held her father at knifepoint and even threatened him with lighter fluid.
Noemi Guzman, who was fatally shot by police after attacking her toddler with a knife, reportedly had previous incidents involving violence, including a church break-in where she threatened to kill a priest, as well as a stabbing of her father back in 2024. In that attack, which occurred on March 3, she allegedly splashed her father, Octavio, with a flammable substance before trying to ignite his house.
Less than an hour later, Guzman is said to have burst into St. Francis Cabrini Church, wielding a knife and vandalizing the premises while a frightened priest barricaded himself. Reportedly, she then loaded a gun in the priest’s area while emergency responders attempted to rescue him from the building.
According to Lt. Jake Litonia, as firefighters were extracting the priest, “she burst through that room just as they were extracting.” He described the situation as a “mental health crisis.”
Guzman allegedly confined herself within the church and even used bear spray against police officers who tried to talk to her. After her arrest, it was reported that she had been released on four felony charges prior to this incident.
A judge later determined that she was not responsible for issues involving second-degree assault, arson, robbery, and criminal mischief due to her mental state. She was, however, mandated to continue medication and therapy.
In a prior incident in 2018, she had assaulted a woman and received a two-year suspended sentence, released after only five months for good behavior.
During the latest episode at Walmart, Guzman was said to have confronted both a 3-year-old and a store manager while brandishing a knife. She allegedly pushed them through the store and out into the parking lot.
When police arrived, Guzman continued to threaten the child, disregarding requests to drop the weapon. In a disturbing turn, she ended up slashing the boy’s face and hand.
Body camera footage captured the tense moment as Guzman held the knife near the child’s face right before an officer drew his firearm and fired.
Guzman died at the scene, while the injured child, identified as Siler Hillman, was taken to a local hospital and is reportedly now recovering with his family.
