Robert De Niro's daughter Drena has revealed how her son died and hit out at those in the drug trade.
On her Instagram following questions about how he passed away she said: 'Someone sold him fentanyl laced pill that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him so for all these people still f------- around selling and buying this s----, my son is gone forever.'
Robert De Niro has expressed his devastation following the death of his grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez.
The Hollywood actor told Metro UK: 'I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo.'
'We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo,' he said.
This comes as Drena De Niro, the daughter of the Taxi Driver star, paid tribute to her late son in a heartfelt post on social media.
'My beautiful sweet angel,' the filmmaker, 51, began the lengthy post. '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,' she lamented.
A spokesperson for the NYPD revealed in a statement on Monday that a male was found unconscious and unresponsive and was pronounced dead at a downtown New York City apartment after police received a 911 call at around 2.23 on Sunday.
Leandro followed in his mother's and grandfather's career footsteps and he appeared in A Star is Born, alongside his mother in 2018.
Drena is the eldest daughter of the Raging Bull star who became a father for the seventh time at the age of 79 in May of this year.
He adopted her after he married Drena's mother, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976. She led a rather transitory life as a result of her father's successful job, between New York City, Los Angeles, and Italy.
She added in her tribute following his death: 'I’m so sorry my baby, I’m so sorry @carlosmare 😢💔. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.'
Drena tagged Leandro's father, sculptor Carlos Mare in the post. He replied: 'My dear Drena… words aren’t enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends. He is Godschild now.
'On this full moon his spirit luminates what could not be seen in the dark. You can’t spell LOVE without LEO 👼 💔 💔.'
He also shared a black picture on his Instagram without any captions.
The Daily Mail reports that the teenager was found lifeless in his $950,000 apartment on Wall Street on Sunday.
A police source told the publication was a powdery white substance on a plate near his body in the Cipriani Club Residences one-bedroom apartment but that there was no sign of trauma.
