Robert De Niro and his family buried their grandson, Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, in New York City on Saturday.
In photos obtained by Page Six, De Niro and the rest of his family and friends could be seen exiting the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan before making their way to the cemetery in Valhalla, New York, about a 40-minute drive away north of Manhattan. According to the New York Post, De Niro’s father is buried in the same cemetery in Valhalla.
The outlet reported that the Goodfellas star arrived with security and was escorted to the funeral home, while Leandro’s parents – Drena De Niro and Carlos Rodriguez – followed him.
The service came almost a week after Leandro’s mother announced that her son had died on July 2 in New York City. Drena, the legendary actor’s 51-year-old daughter, shared the tragic news on Instagram.
“My beautiful sweet angel. I loved you beyond words from the moment I felt you in my stomach. You were my joy, my heart and everything that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was right with you.” Now. I wished I was with you. I don’t know how to live without you but I will try to move on and spread the love and light that you gave me in becoming your mother,” she wrote. “You were loved and appreciated so much and I wish love alone could have saved you 😞I’m so sorry my baby I’m so sorry @carlosmare 😢💔. Rest in peace and in paradise forever my dear boy 🙏🏽💔💔 💔💔💔🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️”
Drena later told ET in a statement, “It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we bid farewell to our beloved son Leo.” We thank you for the love and support and ask that we be given privacy at this time to commemorate this heartbreaking sorrow to process.”
The grieving mother later shared what she believed was the cause of death.
“Someone sold him fentanyl spiked pills they knew had fentanyl spiked in them and sold them anyway,” Drena wrote in a new Instagram comment, replying to a follower who asked, “OMG why? How?”
“So despite all these people still messing around selling and buying this shit, my son is gone forever,” she concluded with a crying emoji.
In a statement to ET, De Niro also spoke out after his grandson’s death.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo,” the statement said. “We really appreciate everyone’s condolences. We ask that we be given privacy so that we can grieve the loss of Leo.”
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