A repeat drunk driver accused of killing a rising teenage tennis star has finally been arrested and charged with murder — seven months after a devastating crash that ended a young life just as it was beginning.
Jenia Resha Belt, 33, is now facing a murder charge in connection with the May 4 crash that killed 18-year-old Braun Levi in Manhattan Beach. Prosecutors say Belt was driving with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit at the time of the collision, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Levi’s family.
The crash happened around 1 a.m. as Levi was walking along a boulevard with a friend. Police say an Infiniti FX35 allegedly driven by Belt struck Braun with such force that his body was thrown down the roadway, causing catastrophic injuries. Paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he was later pronounced dead.
Levi was a standout athlete and a three-time captain of the tennis team at Loyola High School. He was just months away from graduating and was set to play collegiate tennis at the University of Virginia in the fall.
The loss was made even more heartbreaking by what Levi’s family had already endured. They had recently relocated to Manhattan Beach after their home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, making Braun’s death a second, unimaginable blow.
Belt has been charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with one count of murder, one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and a misdemeanor for driving on a suspended or revoked license. She is currently being held on $2 million bail.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Belt’s driver’s license had been suspended in January 2024. Records also show she faced prior drunk driving and hit-and-run charges in 2023, raising serious questions about how she was still behind the wheel.
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges Belt had been drinking heavily at a bar in Hermosa Beach before getting into her vehicle that night. The filing states she knowingly continued consuming alcohol despite being aware she would later be driving.
Levi’s parents, Jennifer Levi and her husband, said their decision to file the lawsuit was not about revenge or money. Instead, they said it was about accountability and preventing similar tragedies.
“This is not a decision rooted in anger, vengeance, or financial gain,” Jennifer Levi said. “It is a decision grounded in accountability, prevention, reform, and the unwavering love we have for Braun.”
Any funds recovered from the lawsuit will go toward the Live Like Braun Foundation, a scholarship fund created in their son’s honor. The foundation aims to support public tennis programs and raise awareness about the deadly consequences of impaired driving.
California loves its criminals especially if they are minorities. Unfortunately, the liberals created this disaster and now the citizens of the state have to live with it since they continue to reelect these disfunctional people who are soft on crime.
There is no excuse.This is premeditated murder.She took a young life with no regard for him or his family