A high school tennis star from California, who was only a month away from graduating, was hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver over the weekend, police say.
Braun Levi, 18, moved to Manhattan Beach after his family’s home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, according to the Los Angeles Times. Jenia Belt, 33, of Los Angeles, mowed him down around 1 a.m. on Sunday while he was walking down Sepulveda Boulevard with a friend, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
“Despite life-saving measures, the pedestrian succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital,” MBPD officials stated in a press release on Sunday. “The driver of the involved vehicle, 33 year old Jenia Belt of Los Angeles, was arrested for felony DUI and murder.”
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Levi, a senior at Loyola High School, a private Roman Catholic college-preparatory institution in Los Angeles, was reportedly climbing the national tennis rankings, according to local NBC affiliate KNBC. According to the outlet, he was remembered at a prayer vigil on campus Sunday night as someone who was selfless and always tried to do the right thing as a player and teammate.
“Braun organized the Loyola Strong retreat that we had for students whose families lost their homes in the Palisades Fire,” said Father John Quinn, a school priest, during the vigil. “He himself lost his home in the Palisades Fire,” Quinn explained of Levi. “Somebody so close to graduation who loved this school so much was taken from us far too soon.”
Levi, along with teammate Cooper Schwartz, reportedly won Loyola’s fourth consecutive Mission League doubles championship just days before dying.
“A four-year starter, Levi completes his title sweep with his fourth straight doubles championship (2022 & 2023 with Darren Ignatius ’24), while Schwartz wins his second in a row with Levi (2024 & 2025) and third overall in his career,” the school wrote on its Loyola Athletics Instagram page following the April 29 victory. “Congratulations!”
In an Instagram post following his death, the school described Levi as a team captain and four-year varsity starter who “cemented himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history,” according to the post. He was planning to attend the University of Virginia in the fall.
“Levi was a true leader throughout our campus, serving as a member of the Student Council, a senior Big Brother, Kairos retreat leader and volleyball team manager, to name a few,” according to the university.
“His endearing personality, infectious smile, and boundless energy made him a popular member of the Loyola community. He was a true Man for and With Others, and we will miss him greatly.”