Woman Killed by Omaha Police After Alleged Walmart Kidnapping Attempt

A woman was shot and killed by police outside a Walmart in Omaha, Nebraska, on Tuesday morning after allegedly cutting a three-year-old child with a knife during an attempted abduction, according to authorities.

Omaha Deputy Police Chief Scott Gray stated at a news conference that officers responded to a call at the Walmart located near 72nd and Pine Street at about 9:13 a.m. local time. The call initially came from a person requesting police assistance, with a woman heard in the background asking for help and another voice instructing, ‘Stop. Keep walking.’

Upon arriving around 9:20 a.m., officers found a woman outside the store holding a knife to a toddler seated in a shopping cart. Gray said officers issued commands to the suspect before at least one officer discharged their weapon. Video evidence reportedly shows the suspect swiping the knife at the child, resulting in a severe facial injury to the boy. The child was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover.

No officers were injured in the incident. The woman, whose identity has not been released, died at the scene. According to police, the woman allegedly approached the child and their caretaker inside the store while armed with a large knife and forced the caretaker to leave the store with her. Gray stated there is no indication that the suspect knew either the child or caretaker, and initial findings suggest the knife may have been shoplifted from Walmart.

The motive for the attack remains unclear. Walmart issued a statement calling the violence "unacceptable" and confirmed full cooperation with the ongoing police investigation. Authorities continue to investigate the events surrounding the attempted kidnapping and shooting.