The actor's grandson, Leandro, died of alleged overdose earlier this month. He was 19.
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of Robert De Niro's grandson, Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez.
Leandro died on July 2 in New York City following an alleged drug overdose. He was 19.
According to multiple reports, an alleged drug dealer has been arrested in connection to Leandro's death. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, the suspect allegedly sold Leandro drugs before he was found dead in his Financial District apartment.
The suspect was reportedly arrested Thursday evening during an undercover sting operation conducted by the NYPD, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security.
Leandro's mom, Drena De Niro, announced that tragic news of her son's death on Instagram, writing, "My beautiful sweet angel . I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly .You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life . I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you."
The 51-year-old daughter of the iconic actor added, "I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama. You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you 😞I’m so sorry my baby , I’m so sorry @carlosmare 😢💔. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy 🙏🏽💔💔💔💔💔🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️."
Drena later told ET in a statement, "It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo. We thank you for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we are given privacy at this time to process this inconsolable grief."
The grieving mother later shared what she believed to be the cause of death.
"Someone sold him fentanyl-laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him," Drena wrote in a new Instagram comment, replying to a follower who asked "OMG, why? How?"
"So for all these people still f**king around selling and buying this s**t, my son is gone forever," she concluded with a crying emoji.
In a statement to ET, De Niro also spoke out following his grandson's death.
"I'm deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo," the statement read. "We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."
De Niro and his family laid Leandro to rest on July 8. In photos obtained by Page Six, De Niro and the rest of his family and friends were seen leaving the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan before heading to the cemetery in Valhalla, New York, about a 40-minute drive north of Manhattan. According to the New York Post, De Niro's father is buried at the same cemetery in Valhalla.
The outlet reported that the Goodfellas star arrived with security and was escorted into the funeral home, with Leandro's mother and his father Carlos Rodriguez following behind him.
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