what happened to braun levi
Braun Levi was a highly regarded 18‑year‑old high school tennis standout from Loyola High School in Los Angeles who tragically died after being struck by an alleged drunk driver in Manhattan Beach in early May 2025.
What happened to Braun Levi?
- Braun Levi was walking in Manhattan Beach around shortly after midnight when a driver in an Infiniti SUV hit him as he crossed the street.
- He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, just weeks before his high school graduation.
- Prosecutors allege the driver was intoxicated and driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash.
His death shocked his school community, the local tennis world, and residents of Manhattan Beach and Pacific Palisades, where he lived.
Who was Braun Levi?
- He was a nationally ranked tennis player, a multi‑year league champion at Loyola High School, and held an excellent academic record (reported above a 4.0 GPA).
- Braun had committed to continue both his education and tennis at the University of Virginia and was only weeks away from graduating high school.
- Friends, teachers, and family consistently described him as kind, joyful, curious, and someone who “lit up every room” he entered.
His school and community held vigils and celebrations of life on the beach and at Loyola High School to honor his memory.
What happened afterward? (legal and community response)
- The driver, identified as Jenia (or Jen) Resha Belt in some reports, was later charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and driving on a suspended license in connection with Braun’s death.
- She pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on a multi‑million‑dollar bail; court proceedings are ongoing, with hearings scheduled to determine if the case will proceed to trial.
- Braun’s parents also filed a large wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, with the stated goal of using any damages to support the “Live Like Braun” Foundation, which focuses on public tennis facilities and impaired‑driving awareness.
Officials and community leaders have used his case to highlight the continuing dangers of drunk driving and repeat DUI offenders.
Legacy and “Live Like Braun”
- Loyola High School and local media describe Braun as a source of light for classmates, teammates, and teachers, remembered for his kindness as much as his athletic talent.
- The “Live Like Braun” message has become a kind of motto among friends and supporters, encouraging people to embrace everyday joy, curiosity, and compassion the way he did.
- The foundation in his name aims to turn grief into action by funding scholarships, supporting public tennis programs, and promoting education about the consequences of impaired driving.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
TL;DR: Braun Levi was an 18‑year‑old Loyola High School tennis star who was killed in May 2025 when an alleged drunk driver struck him in Manhattan Beach; his family and community now honor him through the “Live Like Braun” legacy and ongoing legal efforts tied to his death.