A Seattle man has been given a six-year prison sentence for a Pioneer Square carjacking that involved a firearm, reported the U.S. Attorney's Office. Louis Montel De’Andre Dowers, 32, was convicted after an incident on June 9, 2024, where he used a so-called 'ghost gun' to commandeer a luxury sedan.
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the sentencing, highlighting the "terrifying" nature of the crime. According to court documents, Dowers approached the vehicle, brandished the weapon, and demanded the car from the owner with a chilling ultimatum: "It’s mine now. Get out." The victim managed to rescue his dog before Dowers sped off, nearly hitting the victim’s wife as she exited a store. Fortunately, authorities later tracked the vehicle to Auburn, Washington, leading to Dowers' arrest where they found him with the loaded firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
During the proceedings, U.S. District Judge John H. Chun described the carjacking as "terrifying crimes." This case comes amid a broader crackdown on carjackings, with the Department of Justice setting up Carjacking Task Forces in several districts across the country, including the one responsible for bringing Dowers to justice, the Western District of Washington. This focus seems to be paying off, "coincided with a substantial reduction in these types of crimes," as Miller emphasized.
The guilty plea was entered by Dowers in April 2025, with Judge Chun setting a date of October 27, 2025, to determine restitution for the victims. In their statements, the traumatized couple conveyed the enduring impact of the event, saying they still face the “moment of terror . . . every single day.” which “robbed [them] of peace,” the U.S. Attorney's Office relayed.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Seattle Police Department, the Kent Police Department, the ATF, and the FBI as part of the federal carjacking task force. Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg, who leads the Western District of Washington Carjacking Task Force, is credited with prosecuting the case.
