Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the 19-year-old grandson of renowned actor Robert De Niro, tragically passed away after reportedly ingesting pills laced with fentanyl, according to his devastated mother.
Authorities are currently investigating the teenager's death as a possible overdose after his lifeless body was discovered in a Lower Manhattan apartment on Sunday.
Police sources revealed that a white, powdery substance and drug paraphernalia were found nearby.
While the official cause of death is yet to be determined pending the toxicology report, Leandro's grief-stricken mother, Drena De Niro, has made a heartbreaking claim.
In response to a comment on Instagram asking about the cause of her son's death, she alleged that someone knowingly sold him drugs tainted with fentanyl.
Drena, 51, wrote, "Someone sold him fentanyl-laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him. So for all these people still fking around selling and buying this st, my son is gone forever."
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the city has not yet disclosed an official cause of death. However, sources have revealed that detectives from the NYPD Narcotics Borough Manhattan South have been assigned to investigate the case.
This suggests that they may be looking into who provided the drugs to Leandro, if anyone.
NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig recently stated that fentanyl is now present in "probably 98% of the drugs" in New York City. He emphasized that fentanyl has become pervasive and is a leading cause of overdoses due to its potency.
In the wake of her son's untimely passing, Drena has shared several tributes on Instagram. In one post, she expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of love and support she has received.
She wrote, "I can barely type through my tears but all the love, the messages, calls, texts, emails, the friends and family that held me up these last 24 hrs Ive not been able to respond yet but were grateful for all your love and condolences."
Drena, who is De Niro's eldest daughter from his previous marriage to Diahnne Abbott, also shared a heartfelt message about her son. She said, "None of this is right or fair, and my heart hurts in a way I never knew possible while still breathing and barely functioning.
Leo my darling, I love you today like the first day I held you in my arms."
Robert De Niro himself released a statement on Monday, expressing his deep distress over the loss of his beloved grandson. He thanked everyone for their condolences and requested privacy for his family during this time of grieving.
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