MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif — A 33‑year‑old Los Angeles woman has been charged with murder and other felonies in connection with a May 4 crash that killed 18‑year‑old high school tennis star Braun Levi, prosecutors announced this week. The charges come more than seven months after the tragic collision that stunned the Southern California community and drew widespread attention to the dangers of drunk driving.
The suspect, Jenia Resha Belt, was formally charged Dec. 23 with second‑degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and a count of driving with a suspended license, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. She is being held on $2 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in January 2026.
The fatal crash occurred in the early morning hours on Sepulveda Boulevard near 2nd Street in Manhattan Beach. Police say Belt’s vehicle struck Levi as he was walking with a friend and emergency responders later pronounced him dead at a hospital.
Court records show Belt’s blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit at the time of the collision, and her driver’s license was suspended due to a prior DUI conviction from 2023. Four passengers in the vehicle fled the scene after the crash, but Belt was arrested at the time and subsequently released before the murder charges were filed.
Levi was a standout athlete at Loyola High School of Los Angeles, having captained the tennis team and won multiple league championships, with plans to play at the University of Virginia following graduation. His family had recently relocated to the South Bay after losing their home in the Palisades Fire earlier in 2025.
In November, Levi’s parents filed a $200 million wrongful death lawsuit against Belt, seeking damages and punitive restitution while also honoring their son’s memory through the Live Like Braun Foundation, which focuses on scholarships, public tennis support, and impaired‑driving awareness.
