Police in Nebraska shot and killed a woman after she allegedly kidnapped a young boy and slashed him across the face outside of a Walmart in Ohama.
Deputy Chief Scott Gray said in a press release that the suspect approached a female shopper and a boy who was about 2 to 3 years old on Tuesday, April 14, inside of the store. She showed them a large knife she had shoplifted before she “took possession of the child, essentially kidnapping the child.”
The suspect told the woman to walk in front of the shopping cart as she followed with the child at knifepoint. The two women and the child then made their way out of the store and down a driveway, where the two women exchanged “some verbal back and forth” for several minutes until officers arrived.
After 911 was called, police reported to the Walmart and gave the suspect commands. Gray said that the suspect then began “swiping the knife at the child, cutting him across the face,” noting the slashing was captured on video. At least one officer then fired at the suspect as she ignored their commands, and she died at the scene.
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Bodycam footage showed the woman raising a knife over the young boy as he sat in a shopping cart. Meanwhile, cops were seen pointing their guns at the suspect in the footage.
Following the incident, the child was transported to the hospital and received treatment for a “rather large laceration” on the left side of his face and on one of his hands. Gray said that the boy is expected to survive.
Not much is known about the incident, including what provoked the suspect in the first place.
Gray said that the two women did not know each other and the relationship between the boy and his caretaker is not currently known. Police also did not immediately identify the suspect.
An investigation into the matter has been launched, and police are reviewing video from the store. Gray added that the altercation appeared to be an isolated incident, noting that the Walmart was largely empty at the time of the attack.
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While the altercation started in the store, Gray said that the incident wouldn’t have necessarily drawn the attention of other shoppers.
“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,” Gray said.
The police shooting will be investigated by Omaha police alongside Nebraska State Patrol and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.
The Omaha Police Department told Us Weekly they have no further updates to share as of time of publication.
