GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. - On March 14, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred on the 2900 block of Orchard Avenue. The suspect was holding a gun at a male in the process of stealing the male’s belongings, before driving away. 

Deputies and Officers with the Grand Junction Police Department began searching areas near the address to locate the suspect’s vehicle. Officers located the car near the intersection of 17th Street and Elm Avenue, where a high risk traffic stop was performed. The suspect initially refused to exit the vehicle, though he was detained after approximately 10 minutes of negotiation. During a search of the vehicle, a stolen firearm, along with the stolen property, was recovered.

The suspect was identified as Paul Lucero, 24, of Grand Junction, Colorado. Lucero was transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:

• Robbery/Aggravated-Wound/Strike with a Weapon, Felony 3

• Harassment - Strike, Shove, Kick or Otherwise, Misdemeanor 1

• Resisting Arrest, Misdemeanor 2

• Obstructing a Peace Officer, Firefighter, or EMT, Misdemeanor 2

• Theft-Less Than $300, Petty Offense

• Child Abuse - Knowingly/Reckless - No Injury, Misdemeanor 2

• Theft of a Firearm, Felony 6

• Reckless Endangerment, Misdemeanor 2

• Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Felony 4

We would like to thank the Grand Junction Police Department for their assistance during this incident. The quick resolution to this incident demonstrates the strong working relationship between the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Grand Junction Police Department. 

*Note: This release was updated on March 15, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. to include Paul Lucero's mugshot.