Woman arrested in connection to death of Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro

A woman has been arrested in connection to the death of Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro, who was sadly found dead earlier this month, according to a number of US outlets.

Leandro’s mother, Drena De Niro, confirmed her ‘darling’ son had passed away in a statement on social media, 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.

"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. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”

Instagram/@drenadeniro

In response to a comment on Instagram, the grieving mother claimed her son had died of an overdose.

She wrote: “Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him. So for all these people still f**king around selling and buying this s**t, my son is gone forever.”

While police have reportedly been treating his death as a suspected overdose, having found substances and drug paraphernalia near the teenager’s body, the city medical examiner is yet to reveal an official cause of death.

A woman has now been arrested in connection with Leandro’s death, according to a number of US outlets including the New York Post and ABC News, citing law enforcement sources.

The 20-year-old woman allegedly sold Leandro drugs before he was found dead at his apartment on 2 July.

She was arrested at around 6pm yesterday (Thursday 13 July) during an undercover sting operation conducted by the NYPD, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security, the sources said.

Instagram/@drenadeniro

The sources added that she had been federally charged with the distribution of narcotics and is expected to be arraigned in Manhattan federal court today.

Leandro was an actor like his mother and grandfather before him. He appeared in 2018 alongside his mother Drena in A Star is Born. He played the son of Dave Chapelle's George 'Noodles' Stone.

His other acting credits included 2005's The Collection, and 2018's Cabaret Maxime.

After his death, grandfather Robert De Niro said he was ‘deeply distressed’ by the loss of his family member.

He said in a statement: “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.”