Just when life seemed to be turning a corner for 18-year-old Braun Levi, everything changed in an instant.
The Loyola High School senior had already endured what no teenager should have to — his family lost their home in January during the destructive Palisades Fire that ripped through parts of Los Angeles County. But even as the ashes settled, Braun didn’t let the tragedy define him.
He continued to thrive at school, dominating on the tennis court, leading his classmates, and preparing for a bright future at the University of Virginia this fall.
But in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 4, that future was stolen.
Around 1 a.m., police were called to a heartbreaking scene on Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach, where they found Braun lying in the road near a vehicle, according to People. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. The Manhattan Beach Police Department later confirmed his death in a press release.
Adding to the heartbreak, authorities said the driver who struck him — 33-year-old Jenia Belt of Los Angeles — was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Belt has since been arrested and is facing two DUI charges and one count of murder, USA TODAY reported.
For Braun’s family, the loss is incomprehensible. In just five months, they’ve lost both their home and their son.
After relocating to the South Bay following the fire, Braun had seemed unstoppable. He was preparing for graduation next month and had been accepted to the University of Virginia, where he was set to begin his next chapter in September.
At Loyola High School, where the community is now mourning deeply, Braun was more than just a talented athlete. He was a four-year Varsity starter for Loyola Tennis, cementing himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history. And he was the heartbeat of his class.
One of the best tennis players
“In every way, he was exceptional. He was an exceptional student, a killer athlete, one of the best tennis players in our school,” said Loyola High School Principal and President-elect Jamal Adams in an interview with USA TODAY.
“He was a humble young man who did a great job of highlighting and bringing joy to the people around him. He was a stellar part of the community.”
Despite losing his own home in the wildfires, Principal Adams had stepped up to guide his school through its collective grief. Alongside school officials and his best friend, he helped launch a peer-to-peer counseling program and an overnight retreat to support students like Braun who had been displaced.
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In a tribute posted to Facebook, Loyola’s athletics department honored Braun’s extraordinary legacy.
“We are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Loyola High School senior, Braun Levi. Levi, 18, was a four-year Varsity starter for Loyola Tennis and cemented himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history, having just won his 4th consecutive league championship on April 29th.
The ultimate team captain, Levi was a true leader throughout our campus serving as a member of the Student Council, a senior Big Brother, Kairos retreat leader and volleyball team manager, to name a few. His lovable personality, infectious smile, and boundless energy made him a beloved member of the Loyola community. He was a true Man for and With Others, and we will miss him dearly.”
From the courts to the classroom, Braun was a light in the lives of everyone around him. He was the kind of young man who turned loss into resilience, who led by example, and who loved fiercely.”
We are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Loyola High School senior, Braun Levi.Levi, 18, was a four-year…
Posted by Loyola Athletics on Sunday, May 4, 2025
Now, instead of celebrating a graduation, a community is planning a memorial. And a family who already lost everything is learning how to live without the person they held most dear.
Braun Levi was only 18, but his impact — his kindness, his strength, his smile —will be remembered far longer than his years.
