Photo by James Short.
Police allege victim suffered head injury as defendant threatened to stab residents
A Lower Salford Township woman is facing multiple charges after police said she assaulted a neighbor and threatened others with a knife during a violent confrontation outside an apartment complex in the township.
Donnelle L. Snead, 62, of the 100 block of Main Street in the Harleysville section of the township, has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two misdemeanor counts each of simple assault, misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and possessing instruments of crime, and harassment following the March 13, 2026 incident, according to court documents.
Police said officers responded around 11:48 p.m. to an apartment complex for a reported assault involving a knife. Upon arrival, officers observed broken glass and fresh blood on a walkway outside the building, according to the affidavit.
The victim told police she had been sitting on a community bench when Snead approached and began yelling at her. As the victim attempted to return to her apartment, Snead allegedly pushed her from behind, causing her to strike her head against a concrete wall and fall to the ground. The victim suffered a large, actively bleeding contusion on her forehead and a deep cut to her knee, police said.
According to investigators, the situation escalated when Snead allegedly retrieved a knife from her apartment and returned outside, threatening to harm the victim. The victim told police she feared for her life and believed she would be stabbed.
A witness also told police she observed blood at the scene and saw Snead walking toward them with a knife, prompting her to help the victim get inside safely, according to the complaint. Another witness reported hearing Snead threaten to retrieve a knife during the incident, according to the complaint.
Snead was taken into custody without further incident. She is free on $10,000 unsecured bail, set by on-call Magisterial District Judge Hakim K. Jones, of Norristown.
A preliminary hearing is set for April 29 before Magisterial District Judge Adam Katzman. Snead is represented by a public defender.
All suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Information is provided by police and court documents.
