A promising high school tennis star was tragically killed early Sunday morning after being struck by an alleged drunk driver. Braun Levi, 18, a standout athlete and beloved member of Loyola High School’s community, was found lying in the street near a vehicle along Sepulveda Boulevard around 1 a.m. on May 4. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
Levi was a celebrated student-athlete, described by Loyola High School’s athletics department as “a four-year Varsity starter for Loyola Tennis” who had “cemented himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history, having just won his 4th consecutive league championship on April 29th.”
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The school’s Facebook post also highlighted his leadership, noting his roles in Student Council, as a senior Big Brother, Kairos retreat leader, and volleyball team manager. “His lovable personality, infectious smile, and boundless energy made him a beloved member of the Loyola community,” the statement read. “He was a true Man for and With Others, and we will miss him dearly.”
The tragedy comes just months after Levi’s family lost their home in the devastating Palisades Fire in January. “His family lost their home and had relocated to the South Bay,” Jamal Adams, Principal and President-elect of Loyola High School, told PEOPLE. “In the short five months of 2025, their family’s been through quite a bit.”
Despite his own hardships, Levi dedicated himself to helping others. Adams shared that after the wildfires displaced numerous students, Levi helped establish a peer-to-peer counseling program and organized an overnight retreat in March for those affected.
“It was just to be in community,” Adams said, “to talk about their feelings and the emotions of losing their homes.” Adams praised Levi’s selflessness, saying, “He was a shining example of caring for other people — even in the midst of going through his own personal situation.”
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Levi was set to graduate next month and planned to attend the University of Virginia in the fall, the Los Angeles Times reported. At a Sunday night prayer vigil, Assistant Principal Paul Jordan remembered him as “a friend and an inspiration to me. He was a friend to all who knew him, and we are all better for having known him.
Braun loved his family, he loved Loyola, he loved his Palisades community, and he loved all of you, his fellow Cubs,” per ABC7. Police arrested Jenia Belt, 33, on May 4 on charges of driving under the influence and murder. It remains unclear whether she has entered a plea or obtained legal representation.
The Loyola community continues to grieve the loss of a young man whose kindness, talent, and leadership left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
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