Tahonny Unique Snelling, 22, of East Chicago, is facing multiple felony charges after police say she threatened a coworker with a “Draco-type firearm” before allegedly chasing and pepper-spraying the woman inside a Merrillville apartment building.

According to court documents, officers responded around 7:51 a.m. May 25 to the Huntington Cove Apartments in the 2000 block of Dogwood Trail Court after a woman reported she had been pepper-sprayed by a coworker. The woman also initially reported the suspect had a firearm in her hand during the incident.

The woman told police she was arriving at the apartment building for work as a home health care worker and was late for work when Snelling became visibly upset and began yelling at her. According to the affidavit, the woman told Snelling that since she was there, Snelling did not need to scream at her and could leave.

Court documents state the woman alleged Snelling said she had a Draco-type firearm in her vehicle and was going to get it and come shoot her. The woman told police Snelling then left the area, pulled her vehicle up to the front door of the apartment building and exited the vehicle with a firearm in her hand while yelling that she was going to “call some people.”

The affidavit states the woman was on the phone with her mother during the incident and began calling police. According to court documents, Snelling then yelled, “Oh, now you’re calling someone,” before allegedly running toward the woman, chasing her inside the building and spraying her in the face with pepper spray.

Officers reported observing wet carpet that indicated a stream spray line near the building entry door and detecting a strong smell associated with pepper spray in the hallway. Police also reported observing spray on the woman’s face and glasses. The woman told officers her face was burning and she was evaluated by medics at the scene before refusing transport to a hospital.

According to the affidavit, the woman’s mother later told police she heard another female yelling in the background about getting a firearm while she was on the phone with her daughter.

Court documents state officers later located Snelling at a nearby Tire Barn business in Merrillville, where she claimed the woman had slashed her vehicle’s tires. Police took Snelling into custody and towed her vehicle to the Hobart Police Department. During an inventory search, officers reported they did not locate a firearm or pepper spray inside the vehicle.

During a later recorded interview, the woman reportedly clarified that she did not actually see Snelling with a “Draco”-type firearm. According to court documents, the woman stated Snelling went to her vehicle after the argument, drove it to the apartment building entrance, exited the vehicle and said she was going to get her Draco firearm and “call some people.” The woman told investigators Snelling then chased her and sprayed her in the face with pepper spray, causing a burning pain that was still present approximately an hour later.

Lodged in the Lake County Jail.

Charges filed May 26, 2026:

Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 Felony

Intimidation: Threat to Commit a Forcible Felony, a Level 6 Felony

Battery Resulting in Moderate Bodily Injury, a Level 6 Felony

Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury, a Class A Misdemeanor