A woman has been arrested and formally charged with murder, seven months after she allegedly struck and killed a teenage tennis prodigy in a hit-and-run incident while driving under the influence.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Jenia Resha Belt, 33, now faces one count of second-degree murder for the death of 18-year-old Braun Levi. The fatal collision occurred at approximately 1am on May 4, 2025, on Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach, California. Levi was walking with a friend when Belt, allegedly driving an Infiniti FX35 while intoxicated, ploughed into him.
Prosecutors from Los Angeles County state that Belt's blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit that night. Authorities also confirmed that her driver's licence had been suspended since January 2024. Records reveal a prior incident where Belt was charged with a DUI on November 25, 2023. That charge was dropped in September 2024 after she pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour count of hit and run with property damage, meaning she was prohibited from driving at the time of Levi's death.
A Life of Promise Cut Short
Braun Levi was just a month away from his high school graduation and was set to begin playing tennis for the University of Virginia. At the time of his death, he was the captain of Loyola High School's varsity tennis team, described by the school as 'one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history'.
Days before the tragedy, Levi and his doubles partner, Cooper Schwartz, had won the Mission League doubles championship—his fourth consecutive major win. Beyond athletics, Levi helped create a peer counselling group for students affected by the devastating Palisades Fire in January, which had forced his own family to relocate after their multi-million pound home was destroyed.
Legal Proceedings and Family's Mission
Belt was arrested at the scene but released in June. She has now been rearrested and is being held on a $2 million bond. In addition to the murder charge, she faces one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and a misdemeanour for driving on a suspended licence.
Levi's family has filed a $200 million wrongful death lawsuit against Belt. The suit alleges she consumed 'excessive quantities of alcohol' at a bar in Hermosa Beach before choosing to drive at an unsafe speed. All proceeds from the lawsuit will be directed to the family's 'Live Like Braun Foundation', established to fund scholarships, support public tennis centres, and raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.
'This is not a decision rooted in anger, vengeance or financial gain,' said Levi's mother, Jennifer, in a statement. 'It is a decision grounded in accountability, prevention, reform and the unwavering love we have for Braun.'
