A 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being in an impact and homicide case and was arrested earlier Sunday to kill Braun Levi, a high school student at Loyola High School, who was revoked in a previous drunk driving arrest, according to public records.
According to records provided by the State Department to the New York Times, Jenia Resha Belt had previously been charged with DUI charges, which occurred on November 25, 2023 and is not allowed behind the steering wheel, according to records provided by the State Department to the New York Times.
In the 2023 incident, the belt was sued for having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher and driving at a blood alcohol content of 0.15, or refusing to perform chemical tests and suffering property damage and impact and running.
Belt said in September 2024 that he did not defend against misdemeanors of hitting and running and misdemeanors of running. The charges related to the DUI were dismissed in a plea agreement with the prosecutor. She was sentenced to one year's probation and ordered to compensate, according to court records.
California DMV suspended her driver's license on January 18, 2024, allegedly driving too much blood alcohol level in the 2023 incident. Her license is still in DMV status, according to department records.
Police said she was walking with a friend in the 100 block of South Sepurvida Avenue, she said she ran into 18-year-old Levi, whom Belt was arrested earlier Sunday. Levi, a tennis star at Loyola High School in Loyola, was found lying on the street just a month after graduation when authorities arrived.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Monday that Manhattan Beach police have not filed a criminal case. The office did not respond to an email about BELT's previous fees.
According to arrest records, the belt in Manhattan Beach is still on bail. Public defense lawyers representing her in previous cases were unable to comment.
Video from the crash site showed a silver Infiniti SUV damaged the hood and smashed windshield. An unidentified witness told the on-site photographer that he was walking in front of Levi when he heard about the crash. He said the teenager was lying on the ground as he turned around.
Levi's friends and classmates showered him during a prayer vigil on Sunday night at the campus of Loyola High.
Brian Hold, the coach of Loyola High School’s tennis team, called three-year captain Levi, “probably the most decorated player ever.” The teen just won his fourth consecutive league title for the fourth time on April 29.
Levi's family recently lost their home in the Palisades fire and is preparing to attend the University of Virginia in the fall.
"His lovely personality, infectious smile and unlimited energy make him a beloved member of the Loyola community. He is a real person, with others, and we will miss him a lot."
Levi's tennis partner Cooper Schwartz said in an Instagram post that his friends were "the greatest effort, hard work of performing ever." Photos accompanying the post show the two boys holding tennis trophys in their early years.
"Why? I don't think I'll stop asking myself this question," Schwartz wrote.
"You are always the ones we toast, and we laughed when we tried to explain anything you did, and the people we cried knew we couldn't just give you a hug. No one had a better life than Braunny in 18 or 125 years. So, the tears were happy."
On Sunday night, students and faculty filled the Caruso concert hall on the Loyola campus to pray and share words of memory. The school’s choir performed several Christian hymns, including “The Eagle Wings” and the school song “I am Loyola.”
Assistant principal Paul Jordan left tears as he described Levi as his "friend and inspiration."
"He is a friend of all the people who know him, we all know him, and we will be better," Jordan told the crowd. "Braun loves his family, he loves Loyola, he loves his Palisades community, he loves you all, his bear."