CLINTON, Mass. — A high school basketball player is facing some serious charges after police say he punched his girlfriend in the face.
Heriberto Rojas, a junior, is a star basketball player at Clinton High School, but he’s now facing assault and battery charges after police say he punched his girlfriend in the face repeatedly after an argument.
The news has stunned students.
“I heard he punched her and he was able to play in the basketball game,” junior Joclyn Gramit said.
It happened Wednesday on North Street in Fitchburg, police told FOX25. The 18-year-old girlfriend was driving when they got into an argument about pictures on Rojas' phone.
According to court documents, the victim started to yell at him and said "I do not want to look at those."
She told police, he had punched her "several times in the right side of her face with a closed fist.” The girlfriend stopped the car and Rojas allegedly jumped out.
Rojas played in Friday night’s basketball game, where he scored one point.
Students we spoke to were shocked that school officials let him play despite the allegations.
FOX25 reached out to the superintendent and the school committee, but no one got back to us. The principal refused to make a comment over the phone.
Cox Media Group
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