Latest news with #JeniaBelt
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Loved ones honor 18-year-old killed by suspected drunk driver in Manhattan Beach
Loved ones and community members came together to honor Braun Levi, 18, a high school senior who was killed by a suspected drunk driver in Manhattan Beach. A paddle-out was held on Saturday morning in Manhattan Beach, where many friends and family gathered to catch some waves in Braun's honor. Many of his friends spoke at the event. 'He was the one who brought us all together,' a friend said. 'He kept us singing and he kept us bright. He might not be here right now, but you can still feel his legacy and we can always live like Braun.' 'A kid who gave his love to everyone so freely and asked for nothing in return,' said another friend. 'His impact can be seen by everyone being here today.' On May 4, Braun was walking with a friend near the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Ronda Drive when he was struck by a woman in an SUV around 12:45 a.m. Manhattan Beach Police responded to the scene where Braun's body was found on the roadway next to the suspect's vehicle. He was rushed to the hospital, where despite life-saving measures, he died from his injuries. The driver, Jenia Belt, 33, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and homicide. Her Infiniti SUV had a smashed windshield and notable damage to the hood. At the time of the crash, court records showed that Belt had been driving on a suspended license due to a previous drunk driving arrest in 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported. In that incident, she was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to make restitution while her license remained suspended. Braun, whose family had lost their home in the Palisades Fire, was a three-year captain of Loyola High School's varsity tennis team. He was set to attend the University of Virginia after graduation. 'He was the type of tennis player that even when you were his competition on the court, off the court, he was friends with everybody,' said his mother, Jennifer Levi. His family had only moved to Manhattan Beach four months ago when Braun was killed. An earlier memorial was held at the beach volleyball courts where Braun loved to play. His family was overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up. 'There are hundreds of Manhattan Beach kids there and we've only lived here for four months,' said Adelle Levi, Braun's sister. 'That shows the impact that Braun had on people and the type of friends he can make so fast.' His father, Dan Levi, said his son saw the loss of their Palisades home to the fire as an opportunity to connect with others. 'We all just tried to make the most of losing our house, appreciating the love of our family,' he said. 'Braun, specifically, wanted to reach out to all the younger classmates at his high school and help them through the experience.' On Saturday night, a memorial was held at Loyola High School, where Braun was a standout student who was beloved by his teachers and classmates. Hundreds of loved ones, friends, and community members attended the public event. 'Braun was a shining presence in our Loyola family, bringing light, joy, and inspiration to everyone he touched,' Loyola High School Principal Jamal K. Adams said in a message to the school community. The teen's family said they plan to start a scholarship fund in his name. As for the suspect, she remains in custody without bail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
10-05-2025
- CBS News
Manhattan Beach paddle out set for Loyola High School teen killed by alleged drunk driver
Family and friends of Braun Levi will honor his life Saturday morning with a Manhattan Beach paddle out. The 18-year-old Loyola High School senior was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver May 4, as he was walking along Sepulveda Boulevard with a friend. The high school tennis star was set to graduate next month. An Instagram post from the school's athletic department said that he was a team captain and four-year starter for their tennis team and had "cemented himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history." Levi's family recently moved to the area after losing their home in the Palisades Fire. The paddle out takes place at 10 a.m. at First Street in Manhattan Beach. In lieu of flowers, Levi's family requests donations to the "Live Like Braun" Scholarship Fund. To donate, click here, and note Braun's name in the gift designation field. The driver, Jenia Belt, 33, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. She was also driving on a license suspended since January 2024. "Braun was a shining presence in our Loyola family, bringing light, joy, and inspiration to everyone he touched," LHS Principal Jamal K. Adams said in a statement.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Appalling secret of LA woman who 'killed high school senior', 18, months after his family's home burned down
A Los Angeles drunk driver accused of running over and killing an 18-year-old high school student has a suspended license from a previous DUI offense. Jenia Belt, 33, was arrested on Sunday at around 12:45am for allegedly mowing down Loyola High School tennis star Braun Levi, whose family lost their home in the Palisades Fire just months before. Manhattan Beach Police booked Belt on suspicion of homicide and DUI. She is being held in county jail without bond as investigators probe Levi's heartbreaking death. Court records reveal this was not Belt's first run-in with the law, as she was arrested for drunk driving about two years ago. Los Angeles County Superior Court documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times about the November 2023 incident show that Belt was charged with having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. She was also charged with either driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or refusing to take a chemical test, as well as hit and run with property damage. Belt's DUI charges connected to the incident were dropped in a plea deal she entered in September 2024. She pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor count of hit and run with property damage. Belt's car (pictured in front of her home prior to the incident) was seen with a shattered windshield and heavy front damage after the crash The alleged killer was sentenced to a year of probation and had to pay restitution, the LA Times reported. The 2023 crash resulted in the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspending her driver's license in January 2024. She was still barred from driving when she allegedly hit Levi. Police rushed to the gut-wrenching scene on Sunday, finding Levi lying unconscious in the street after he was run over while walking with his friends. He was taken to a local hospital and succumbed to his critical injuries despite life-saving efforts. Crime scene footage obtained by KTLA 5 showed the harrowing aftermath, including Belt's car's shattered windshield behind yellow crime scene tape. The DUI suspect was seen in handcuffs as an officer walked her over to a cop car. 'I knew right away it was very bad because I have gotten a call, unfortunately, in the past, when they say "everything is fine, your child is fine,"' Levi's mother, Jennifer Levi, told FOX 11 about the call she received after the crash. 'But they didn't say that, and I knew right away it was bad. 'An innocent, wonderful, promising life was just robbed of us because someone made a really bad decision that they didn't have to.' The all-boys Catholic high school senior was set to attend the University of Virginia in the fall. Loyola High School is one of the top-ranked Jesuit academic institutions in Los Angeles. The yearly tuition is roughly $27,000, according to the school's website. Levi was the captain of the varsity tennis team and 'one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history,' according at statement from the school's athletics department. He and his tennis partner, Cooper Schwartz, had won the Mission League doubles championship just days before he was killed. This was the star athlete's fourth big win in a row. The tight-knit Loyola community has been grappling with his tragic death, with school staff and Levi's peers sharing heartbreaking tributes to honor him. 'Braun was a shining presence in our Loyola family,' Loyola Principal Jamal Adams wrote in an email to the school's families to announce Levi's passing, the Los Angeles Times reported. The crash site has been converted into a memorial for the standout teen, adorned with flowers and pictures left by tearful loved ones. Crowley Sullivan, one of Levi's close friends, described him as outgoing and ambitious. 'I don't even know what's to say right now. You are my friend, my brother, my family, but more importantly, you are a way of life,' Sullivan wrote on Instagram. 'You pushed every single day of your life to make it the best day ever. You impacted every single person you interacted with in such a positive and unique way that you truly made a difference in this world.' Ole Miss Football Head Coach Lane Kiffin's daughter, Presley Kiffin, posted photos of Levi on her social media, writing: 'To the best heart and soul. We love you always and forever.' Levi's own social media accounts told the story of the vibrant life he led - featuring a selfie with Adam Sandler and smiling photos with his friends and teammates. 'Everybody says, "Oh, he's the tennis player and a smart kid," but he was way more than that,' his father, Daniel Levi, told FOX 11. 'His personality was off the charts. He was always up to something, everybody loved him.' Levi's sister, Adelle Levi, spoke out about her little brother's death in a tear-jerking message about how much she appreciated their time together. 'I will spend the rest of my life striving to live with the same heart, strength, and kindness that you've shown these past 19 years,' she wrote. 'You are deeply loved, and words can't begin to express how much you'll be missed.' This unimaginable loss comes after the Levi family's Pacific Palisades home was burned down during January wildfires that wreaked havoc on the wealthy Los Angeles community. The Palisades fire ravaged roughly 6,800 structures on its own. Combined with the devastation caused by the simultaneously burning Eaton Fire, about 16,000 buildings were wrecked. Since being forced out of their gorgeous home, the family has relocated to the South Bay, the LA Times reported.
