MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The halls of Loyola High School in Pico-Union were much quieter on Monday morning, May 5, 2025, as friends, classmates, and loved ones grappled with the tragic death of 18-year-old Braun Levi, a rising tennis star who was just weeks away from graduation.
According to the Manhattan Beach Police Department, Levi was walking with a friend down the 100 block of Sepulveda Boulevard at around 1 a.m. on Sunday, May 4, when he was struck by a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Jenia Belt. The driver is now facing possible DUI and murder charges and is being held without bail.
The news of Levi's death spread rapidly through the community. "I was at a tennis tournament, and it just didn't feel real," said Kiran Spurling, a freshman at Loyola who played tennis alongside Levi. The Levi family released a heartfelt statement on Monday, expressing their grief and celebrating the joy Levi brought to their lives. "After losing Braun, there will forever be an emptiness in our hearts - we are choosing to celebrate the extraordinary 19 years we were lucky enough to share with him. Braun lived with a spirit few ever do - always smiling, endlessly curious, and with a hint of mischief," they wrote. "While he was known for his talent on the tennis court and his academic achievements, what made us the most proud was the way he treated others - with kindness, respect, and a light that shined in every room he entered. Trust us, there was never a dull moment with Braun. His will be missed deeply - and remembered always. His legacy of joy and generosity will live on in everyone who knew and loved him. Our lives and hearts will never be the same."
Levi was a nationally-ranked tennis player at Loyola High School and had just won his fourth consecutive tennis league championship the week prior to his death. He was set to continue his tennis career at the University of Virginia this fall. "I played doubles with him one time, and he really was a great, not just tennis-wise, but was a great teammate," recalled Spurling. "He would cheer me up, even if I made a bad shot."
Just months earlier, the Levi family had faced another tragedy when they lost their home in the Palisades Fire. Father John Quinn of Loyola High School remarked on how Levi transformed his personal loss into a drive to help others. "Just a very moving experience to see Braun take his senior project from being outside Loyola to turning it inside to help students, to help others, who were in that same situation of having lost everything they owned," Quinn noted.
On Sunday night, Levi's tight-knit school community held a tear-filled prayer vigil on campus, where students and faculty gathered to honor his memory. "Braun was a friend and an inspiration to me," said Loyola High Assistant Principal Paul Jordan. "He was a friend to all who knew him, and we are all better for having known him. Braun loved his family, he loved Loyola, he loved his Palisades community, and he loved all of you, his fellow Cubs."
Levi is survived by his parents and older sister. A friend at the vigil encapsulated the sentiment felt by many, saying, "May Braun's belief, valuing the joy of everyday, and his desire to love all people, inspire all of us to live each day to the fullest. We pray to the Lord."
In the wake of the accident, details about the driver, Jenia Belt, have come to light. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and homicide. Records show that her driver's license had been suspended since January 2024, following a previous DUI charge from an incident in November 2023. At that time, she was charged with driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher and hit and run with property damage. Although she pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor hit and run charge in September 2024, the DUI-related charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal. Belt was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to make restitution.
Witnesses reported seeing Belt's vehicle, a silver Infiniti SUV, with significant damage after the crash. One witness, who was walking ahead of Levi at the time of the accident, recounted hearing the crash and turning around to see Levi lying on the ground.
As the community mourns Levi's untimely death, tributes have poured in from friends and classmates, many of whom took to social media to share their memories. Cooper Schwartz, Levi's doubles partner, expressed his grief in an emotional Instagram post, calling Levi the "greatest work hard, play hard exemplar of all time" and lamenting, "Why him? I don’t think I’ll ever stop asking myself this question. You’re forever who we toast to, who we laugh about when we try to explain anything you’ve ever done, and who we cry about knowing we can’t just give you a hug. 18 years or 125, no one had a better life than you did, Braunny. The tears are joyful because of that."
On Sunday evening, students and faculty filled Caruso Hall on Loyola's campus to pray and share words of remembrance. The school choir performed several hymns, including "On Eagles Wings" and the school's anthem, "I Am Loyola." Assistant Principal Paul Jordan, visibly emotional, described Levi as a "friend and inspiration" to him and many others. "He was a friend to all who knew him, and we are all better for having known him," he said.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department continues to investigate the incident, and anyone with additional information is urged to contact them. As the community reflects on the loss of Braun Levi, they are reminded of his vibrant spirit and the lasting impact he had on those around him.
