Five people arrested over death of Robert De Niro’s grandson
Five people have been arrested in connection with the death of Robert De Niro's 19-year-old grandson.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the child of the actor's eldest daughter, was found deceased in his apartment on 2 July 2023 in New York.
The teenager's death was later ruled as a drug overdose, with an autopsy finding a 'toxic combination' of substances, including fentanyl, ketamine, and cocaine, in De Niro Rodriguez's body.
Over two years later, five people have been charged in connection with his death, accused of running a drug distribution network which sold fentanyl laced drugs to young people across New York City.
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The suspects have been identified as Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas. They have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute between January and July 2023, according to the BBC.
The men are accused of killing three teenagers - De Niro Rodriguez, Akira Stein, who is the daughter of Blondie member Chris Stein, and a third unnamed victim - by allegedly supplying them with the drugs.
"Through their alleged actions, these defendants left behind a trail of irreversible loss that cut short the lives of three teenagers who held boundless potential and who had already made profound, immeasurable impacts on those who knew them," read a statement from Ricky Patel, Homeland Security Investigator in charge of the investigation.
A woman was previously arrested in connection with De Niro Rodriguez's death, accused of selling the teenager counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and Xanax.
De Niro Rodriguez's death was announced by his mother, Drena, who wrote 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."
She also shared a tribute to her son 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."
She continued: "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."
The Goodfellas star issued his own statement, saying he was 'deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo', adding: "We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."
LADbible Group has contacted De Niro's representatives for comment.
Brenna Cooper