Robert De Nirocalls the death of his grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, an “awful” tragedy.
Rodriguez, the only son of De Niro’s daughter Drena, 56,died at age 19 in New York City last July 2.
In an interview with PEOPLE, theKillers of the Flower Moonstar, 80, says he felt “disbelief” when he heard the news. “It’s just a shock,” he says. “[I] never thought it would happen.”
“And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him,” continues the father of seven. “I don’t know if that would’ve made a difference. And so that’s always playing through my mind.”
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, Drena De Niro and Robert De Niro.Drena De Niro/Instagram
Drena De Niro/Instagram
“It shouldn’t have happened,” he adds.
Less than two weeks after Rodriguez overdosed,New York resident Sophia Marks was arrestedin connection with the death.
Robert De Niro on the cover of PEOPLE.Michael Schwartz
Michael Schwartz
Marks, 21, was charged with one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and alprazolam, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, each of which also carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement at the time that Marks sold “fake oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl.”
AWashington Postanalysis of death data for 2021 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found thatfentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
