18-year-old robs Provo students at gunpoint, police say

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Three Independence High School students in Provo were held up at gunpoint on Thursday, according to Provo Police.

At around 1:15 p.m. on May 1, staff at Independence High informed the School Resource Officer (SRO) that a student wished to report an incident that had occurred around two hours prior. The student reportedly told the SRO that he and two other students were returning to school from an off-campus class when they were approached by a gray Chevrolet sedan.

A male suspect then exited the vehicle, the student said, pointed a gun at him and the two other students, and demanded they give up their belongings. Two students reportedly had bags, which they surrendered.

The SRO began investigating the incident, obtaining camera footage from the school. The footage showed the suspect vehicle described with two individuals inside passing by the school.

At around 11:30 p.m. that night, police were able to identify and locate the vehicle. Officers then found the main suspect — identified as Michael Javier Flores, 18 — and placed him under arrest.

Detectives interviewed Flores, who was then taken to Utah County Jail and booked on charges of aggravated robbery (first-degree felony) and property damage (class A misdemeanor).

“Investigators are still trying to identify and locate the second suspect,” a press release from Provo Police states. “Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 801-852-6210.”

No further information is available at this time.