Just months after losing everything in the destructive Palisades Fire, a California family is now facing an even deeper heartbreak—the loss of their teenage son in a tragic accident.
Eighteen-year-old Braun Levi, a standout student-athlete from Loyola High School in Los Angeles, was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver early Sunday morning while crossing the street with a friend in Manhattan Beach.
A Promising Life Ended Too Soon
It was around 12:45 a.m. when the accident happened.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and found Braun lying unresponsive in the road.
Despite their efforts to save him, the young tennis star was pronounced dead at the hospital from severe injuries.
Police have identified the driver as 33-year-old Jenia Belt, a Los Angeles resident.
She was arrested on the scene and is now being held without bail, facing charges of DUI and homicide.
Crash Scene Reveals the Horror
Footage from the crash site, obtained by KTLA 5, captured the grim aftermath—Belt’s car with a shattered windshield, cordoned off by yellow tape.
Witnesses watched as the visibly shaken suspect, wearing a crop top, was handcuffed and escorted by police into a squad car.
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, but the community already knows the loss it’s mourning.
A Star Athlete With a Bright Future
Braun wasn’t just another high school senior.
He was the captain of Loyola High School’s varsity tennis team and had just led his team to victory, winning the Mission League doubles championship alongside his partner, Cooper Schwartz.
It was his fourth major title in a row—a legacy that now ends far too soon.
Loyola, one of the most prestigious Jesuit schools in LA with a yearly tuition of around $27,000, is mourning the loss of one of its brightest.
The school described Braun as “one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history.”
Tributes Pour In From a Grieving Community
Loyola Principal Jamal Adams broke the heartbreaking news to families, calling Braun “a shining presence in our Loyola family.”
The grief was palpable among students and faculty alike.
Outside the crash site, a makeshift memorial of flowers and photographs has grown.
Friends and strangers alike have stopped by to honor the young man whose smile and spirit touched so many.
Braun’s friend Crowley Sullivan shared a deeply emotional tribute online:
“You are my friend, my brother, my family… You pushed every day to make it the best day ever. You truly made a difference in this world.”
A Sister’s Heartfelt Goodbye
Perhaps the most touching tribute came from Braun’s sister, Adelle.
In a message filled with love and pain, she wrote:
“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… You are deeply loved, and words can’t begin to express how much you’ll be missed.”
From a Burned-Down Home to an Unbearable Loss
Earlier this year, the Levi family’s $3–4 million home in Pacific Palisades was completely destroyed in the devastating wildfires that tore through Los Angeles.
The Palisades Fire alone scorched nearly 7,000 structures, and the Levi family had only just begun rebuilding their lives in the South Bay when tragedy struck again.
Braun was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall—a fresh chapter he never got to start.
What Comes Next?
As the investigation continues, the Levi family and Loyola High School community are left picking up the pieces of a loss that feels too big to bear.
There are questions to be answered, and a young life to be honored—not just for what he accomplished, but for how he lived.