Mary Natasha Dixon shown at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Aug. 6.
Ed Lewis | Times Leader File Photo
WILKES-BARRE — A Wilkes-Barre woman accused of fatally shooting another woman after a dispute inside a hookah lounge is involved in plea negotiations with Luzerne County prosecutors.
Attorney John B. Pike said on behalf of his client, Natasha Mary Dixon, 36, that negotiations are ongoing with the district attorney’s office.
Dixon, of Edison Street, was charged by detectives with Wilkes-Barre City police and the district attorneys’ office with criminal homicide after she allegedly shot Ayana Shanell Velardo, 30, in the neck on Aug. 9, 2025.
Dixon and Velardo were inside the Mila Lounge at 199 Hazle St. where the two accidentally bumped into each other in a crowded room, according to court records.
Velardo exited the lounge and crossed the street with other people.
Dixon also left the lounge and approached Velardo, shooting her in the throat, court records say.
A witness told detectives, according to court records, that Dixon “smiled” after she fired the shot and fled the scene in a minivan, which was found on Hutson Street.
During a pre-trial conference Tuesdaybefore Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge David W. Lupas, Pike said negotiations are underway and requested more time.
Lupas scheduled another pre-trial conference for Dixon on Nov. 3.
Assistant District Attorneys Allyson L. Kacmarski and Gerry Scott are prosecuting the case.
Local journalism matters, and your support makes it possible. You can help sustain this work by making a donation or choosing one of our subscription options. Subscribers enjoy valuable benefits, including full access to our e-edition, a reduced ad experience on timesleader.com, and more.
Your support helps ensure independent, high-quality local news remains available today and for future generations. Thank you for standing with local journalism.