LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The mother of a teenage tennis star killed in a hit-and-run collision earlier this year as he was walking in Manhattan Beach is expected to break her silence at a news conference Monday with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and talk about the charges filed against the woman accused of running down her son.
Jenia Resha Belt, 33, was allegedly driving drunk when she struck and killed 18-year-old Loyola High School star athlete Braun Levi just weeks before he was set to graduate.
Belt was initially arrested shortly after the crash that occurred around 12:45 a.m. May 4 in the 100 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard, but she was released from custody a month later, according to jail records.
Belt was charged Dec. 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 on 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 Jan. 13 at the Torrance Courthouse. In addition to the D.A. and the teen’s mother Jennifer Levi, Manhattan Beach Police Captain Christian Eichenlaub, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Traci Park and state Sen.
Bob Archuleta were expected to attend.
Belt is accused in the death of 18-year-old Braun Levi, whose 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.
Levi, who was found in the street by responding officers, was nationally ranked in tennis, and his family told reporters he was bound for the University of Virginia.
“Braun was a shining presence in our Loyola family, bringing light, joy and inspiration to everyone he touched,” Loyola High School posted on its website after his death. “As the Varsity tennis team captain for three years, Braun was a true leader and student athlete, serving as a member of the Student Council, a senior Big Brother, Kairos retreat leader and volleyball team manager.”
“… May his family find peace, strength and solace in the embrace of our collective love and support.”
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.
“At any tournament we played together, Braun was a celebrity,'” Schwartz said. “He somehow had a memory made with at least every single player in the draw. At The Ojai Invitational, I lost count of how many kids came up just to say hi to him. Braun was SoCal tennis royalty, everyone knew him, and everyone loved him.”
District Attorney Nathan Hochman scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Monday to discuss the charges in the case.
Levi’s mother and local elected officials were expected to attend.
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.
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