Key Takeaways:
- The mother of a teenage tennis star, Braun Levi, is calling for tougher DUI laws after her son was fatally struck by an alleged drunken driver in Manhattan Beach.
- The accused driver, Jenia Resha Belt, has been charged with murder, gross vehicular murder while intoxicated, and driving with a suspended license.
- The District Attorney’s office is pushing for life imprisonment for Belt.
- A new bill is being proposed to restructure California DUI sentencing and punishment.
- The bill would require anyone convicted of drunken driving to pass a breathalyzer or ignition interlock device test before starting a vehicle.
Introduction to the Tragedy
The mother of a teenage tennis star who was fatally struck by an alleged drunken driver in Manhattan Beach is calling for tougher DUI laws to crack down on impaired motorists. Jennifer Levi, whose 18-year-old son Braun Levi was killed on May 4, spoke at a downtown Los Angeles news conference with District Attorney Nathan Hochman and other elected officials, saying California needs to be tougher on drunk driving. The feeling of identifying her son’s body is a memory that will never leave her, and she is committed to advancing a new bill to restructure California DUI sentencing and punishment.
The Accident and Charges
During the news conference, Hochman formally announced charges against the motorist accused of driving drunk and killing Levi’s son around 12:45 a.m. on May 4 in the 100 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard. Jenia Resha Belt, 33, fatally struck Braun Levi, a Loyola High School star athlete who was just weeks away from graduation. Braun Levi’s family had relocated to Manhattan Beach after losing their home in the Palisades Fire. Levi was walking with a friend along Sepulveda Boulevard when he was struck. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Belt was initially arrested shortly after the crash but was released from custody a month later, according to jail records.
The Investigation and Arrest
Belt was charged on December 18 with murder, gross vehicular murder while intoxicated, and driving with a suspended license. A warrant was issued for her arrest when the charges were filed, and Manhattan Beach police announced that she was taken into custody by District Attorney’s Office investigators last Tuesday. She was being held at the Manhattan Beach jail on $2 million bail. On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Laura C. Ellison re-scheduled Belt’s arraignment for January 13 at the Torrance Courthouse. Hochman said his office will be pushing for life imprisonment for Belt, sending a message to everyone who is thinking of getting behind the wheel drunk and intoxicated that they could be facing life imprisonment if they engage in such dangerous conduct.
The Call for Tougher Laws
Jennifer Levi said she will be backing legislation being pushed by Sen. Bob Archuleta, D-Pico Rivera, to toughen sentences for impaired drivers. Archuleta’s granddaughter was killed by an alleged drunken driver about a year ago. Earlier this year, he co-sponsored legislation that would require anyone convicted of drunken driving to pass a breathalyzer or ignition interlock device test before starting a vehicle. The bill would also require people convicted of DUI to pay for installation of the interlock device in all vehicles they own. This legislation is a step in the right direction to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.
The Victim’s Legacy
Braun Levi was nationally ranked in tennis, and his family told reporters at the time that he was bound for the University of Virginia. Loyola High School posted on its website after his death, "Braun was a shining presence in our Loyola family, bringing light, joy and inspiration to everyone he touched." The U.S. Tennis Association Southern California published an extensive tribute to Levi, saying he "had a way of brightening every room he walked into; he was radiant. His sportsmanship never wavered. And his love — for tennis, people, and life — was always evident." His friend and doubles partner, Cooper Schwartz, recalled in the tribute that Levi was a star on the tennis circuit, on and off the court.
The Accused Driver’s History
The Los Angeles Times reported previously that Belt was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash, stemming from a previous DUI arrest in November 2023. According to court records, she pleaded no contest in September 2024 to a hit-and-run charge under a deal with prosecutors in which the DUI charge was dismissed and she was placed on a year of probation. This history of reckless behavior highlights the need for tougher laws and stricter penalties for impaired drivers. The community is coming together to support the Levi family and to push for change, and it is hoped that Braun’s legacy will live on through the positive impact that his family and friends are working to create.
