Woman Accused of Drunk Driving and Killing High School Tennis Star Charged
Introduction to the Case
A 33-year-old Los Angeles woman who allegedly drove drunk and hit an 18-year-old man as he crossed Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach in May was arrested this week and charged with murder, authorities said.
Jenia Resha Belt was taken into custody shortly after the early morning crash on May 4 and was held on a probation violation, but had not been charged in relation with the crash until Tuesday, Dec. 23, following an extensive investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Charges Filed Against Jenia Resha Belt
She was also charged with one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one misdemeanor count of driving when privilege suspended or revoked for driving with a specified blood alcohol level, said Pamela Johnson, spokeswoman for the DA’s office.
Belt was scheduled to appear in Torrance Superior Court Wednesday, where she may enter a plea to the charges.
The Victim: Braun Levi
Killed in the crash was Braun Levi, a nationally ranked tennis player at Loyola High School who had moved to Hermosa Beach with his family after they had lost their home in the Palisades fire. Levi was set to graduate and had planned to attend the University of Virginia.
He and a playing partner had won four consecutive league championships in doubles tennis.
Levi and a small group of friends were attempting to cross Sepulveda heading westbound south of Second Street when Levi was hit by an SUV being driven by Belt headed northbound around 12:45 a.m., police said.
Incident Details and Investigation
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Loyola High School athlete Braun Levi, 18, who was killed early Sunday, May 4, 2025, by a suspected DUI driver. (Courtesy of Loyola High School IG)
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Belt stopped the SUV and four others got out and ran northbound from the scene, Manhattan Beach police officers wrote in a search warrant requesting to gather data from Belt’s phone.
Belt stayed at the scene and was talking with Hermosa Beach officers in the parking lot of the Hi View Inn & Suites when Manhattan Beach officers arrived.
Levi was found in the roadway with his face bloodied and large abrasions on his chest, police wrote in the document. He died at a hospital.
Belt told police at the scene she had one Moscow mule at a bar in Hermosa Beach before getting into the SUV to drive, but she failed field sobriety tests at the scene and was taken into custody, the document says. Her blood-alcohol content measured at 0.19%, more than twice the legal limit, police said.
Previous Record and Lawsuit
She told police she tapped the brakes to avoid one pedestrian, then continued before seeing a second pedestrian and hitting that person unintentionally. She was driving on a suspended license after entering a plea deal for a hit-and-run in 2023, court records show. A drunk-driving charge was dropped as a result of that plea deal.
Levi’s parents, in November, filed a lawsuit against Belt seeking $200 million, which they said they planned to put toward the Live Like Braun Foundation, created to honor Braun while raising awareness against the dangers of impaired driving.
Current Status
Belt, who was arrested Tuesday, was being held in jail on $2 million bail, inmate records show.
Conclusion
The case of Jenia Resha Belt and the tragic death of Braun Levi serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving and the importance of responsible behavior on the road. The charges filed against Belt reflect the severity of the incident and the need for accountability. As the case proceeds, it is essential for the community to come together in support of the Levi family and to advocate for stricter measures against drunk driving.
FAQs
- Q: What were the charges filed against Jenia Resha Belt?
A: Belt was charged with murder, one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and one misdemeanor count of driving when privilege suspended or revoked for driving with a specified blood alcohol level. - Q: Who was the victim in the incident?
A: The victim was Braun Levi, an 18-year-old nationally ranked tennis player at Loyola High School. - Q: What was the blood-alcohol content of Jenia Resha Belt at the time of the incident?
A: Belt’s blood-alcohol content measured at 0.19%, more than twice the legal limit. - Q: What is the current status of Jenia Resha Belt?
A: Belt was being held in jail on $2 million bail. - Q: What action did Levi’s parents take in response to the incident?
A: Levi’s parents filed a lawsuit against Belt seeking $200 million to put toward the Live Like Braun Foundation.
