A woman has been arrested over the suspected fentanyl overdose death of Robert De Niro’s teenage grandson, a law enforcement official said on Friday.
Sofia Haley Marks, 20, allegedly sold the drugs to 19-year-old Leandro De Niro Rodriguez before he was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on July 2.
Actor Leandro had been making a name for himself in Hollywood before the tragedy to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.
Marks was detained on Thursday by New York City police officers and federal drug agents, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the arrest.
She is expected to appear in court on Friday.
Leandro’s cause of death remains under investigation, a spokesperson for the city medical examiner’s office said.
His mother, Drena De Niro, announced her son’s death on Instagram.
In response to a question to her post, she wrote that her son died after “someone sold him fentanyl laced pills”.
Leandro was the son of Drena De Niro, the oldest child of Robert De Niro, and artist Carlos Mare.
Like his famous grandfather, he was an actor had appeared with his mother in projects including Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake of A Star Is Born, 2005’s The Collection and 2018’s Cabaret Maxime.
Robert De Niro said after Leandro’s death that 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.”
A representative for him didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment about the arrest.
