A Minnesota woman is facing multiple felony charges after authorities allege she intentionally ran down four pedestrians with her vehicle, killing one and injuring three others.
Minnesota woman deliberately targets pedestrians
The separate incidents occurred on the evening of April 30 in Minneapolis, leading to the arrest of 38-year-old Sophia Sullivan, who was later booked into the Hennepin County Jail.
According to a criminal complaint, Sullivan was behind the wheel of a Honda Accord when she allegedly ran a red light at approximately 6:19 p.m. and hit a teenage girl and a woman, while they were lawfully crossing an intersection in a marked crosswalk.
Police believe Sullivan continued driving and, minutes later, targeted another pair of pedestrians further along the same road.
A man and woman, were struck as they used a separate crosswalk. Surveillance footage reportedly captured this second collision, offering a clearer view of Sullivan’s alleged actions.
The complaint outlines that Sullivan was seen driving parallel to the two pedestrians before she allegedly accelerated and hit them at high speed.
The man, police say, was launched roughly 30 feet into the air and landed near a parked car.
The woman ended up on the hood of Sullivan’s vehicle before falling to the pavement when the car abruptly stopped.
The report claims she steered her car toward the fallen woman, running her over and continuing to drive with the woman pinned underneath the vehicle.
According to investigators, she then veered the car from side to side until the woman was dislodged, at which point Sullivan allegedly ran her over a second time with the rear wheels.
Minnesota woman charged with murder
The two people from the initial crash sustained burn-like injuries and lacerations.
The man involved in the second strike was hospitalized with a broken wrist and additional abrasions. The woman later died from her injuries on May 2.
Authorities eventually tracked Sullivan’s vehicle to her apartment complex.
When they located the car, investigators noted a shattered windshield and what was described as “fresh blood” on the exterior. Records show Sullivan’s driver’s license had been revoked in 2015.
She was taken into custody on April 30 and is being held on a $2 million bond.
She has been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, and five counts of criminal vehicular operation.
Her next scheduled court date is set for June 3.
Impressive teen athlete run down by drunk driver
In an unrelated case, an 18-year-old high school athlete from California was killed in a suspected DUI collision over the weekend.
According to police, Braun Levi was walking with a friend around 1 a.m. on May 4 along Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach when he was fatally mowed down by a vehicle.
Officers arrived at the scene and found Levi lying in the road near a car. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Levi was a standout student and athlete at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. “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 school’s athletics department posted on Facebook.
“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,” the post continued.
“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.”
The tragedy struck only months after Levi’s home was lost during the Palisades Fire earlier this year.
“Braun organized the Loyola Strong retreat that we had for students whose families lost their homes in the Palisades Fire,” Father John Quinn shared at a vigil for the teen.
“He himself lost his home in the Palisades Fire. Somebody so close to graduation who loved this school so much was taken from us far too soon.”
The driver, identified as 33-year-old Jenia Belt of Los Angeles, was arrested and charged with felony DUI and murder.
Authorities stated Belt was operating a vehicle on a suspended license stemming from a prior DUI conviction.
Reports indicate that Belt was previously charged in November 2023 with driving while having a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.
Additional charges at that time included either having a BAC of 0.15 or higher or refusing a chemical test, as well as hit-and-run involving property damage.
In 2024, Belt pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge, while DUI charges were dismissed under a plea agreement.
She received a one-year probation sentence and was ordered to pay restitution.
Belt is currently being held in county jail without bond.
