Drena De Niro, the eldest of Robert De Niro’s seven children, confirmed the death of her teenage son on Sunday night
Drena De Niro and Carlos Rodriguez with their late son Leandro De Niro Rodriguez” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JeKLiJJ5ijBLcZryugwWwg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzNQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/356b328a355cda6090ce59caf9000c36″ class=”caas-img”/>
Drena De Niro Instagram
Drena De Niro and Carlos Rodriguez with their late son Leandro De Niro Rodriguez
Drena De Niro has shared a heartbreaking message following the death of her son Leandro.
The actress – whose father is actor Robert De Niro – shared a black and white photo of 19-year-old Leandro laughing alongside a moving tribute on Monday.
“I can barely type through my tears but all the love, messages, calls, texts, emails, friends and family that have held me over the past 24 hours, I haven’t been able to respond yet but we are grateful for all of your love and condolences,” the 51-year-old wrote.
“None of this is fair or just and my heart aches in ways I never thought possible while barely breathing and functioning. Leo my darling I love you today like the first day I held you in my arms.
Drena, who confirmed her son’s death on Instagram on Sunday night, then revealed that the same man who took her and Leandro from the hospital after he was born also drove her to the funeral home “where I took you touched and held for the last time”. ”
Related: Robert De Niro’s Grandson Leandro Dead Shares Mom Drena: “You Were So Deeply Loved”
Admitting that she is still in disbelief at her son’s death, she continued: ‘You were kindness and acceptance and love and I can’t believe it’s all real. YOU have made everything bearable and every burden lighter. You didn’t deserve to die like that but I can only believe that God needed a strong and mighty angel in his army.
“I hold you every second of every moment, I follow my heart and my memories until I am with you again. My heart is forever broken. Me, dad and your family, I love you, I love you with every beat of my crying heart 💔💔💔😭🕊️🕊️🕊️ @carlosmare,” Drena concluded, also tagging Leandro’s artist father, Carlos Rodriguez.
Carlos also shared his grief over losing his son and posted a series of photos of Leandro, including a sweet snapshot of the couple holding hands from Leandro’s childhood.
Related: Robert De Niro Says He’s “Deeply Grieved” After Teenage Grandson Leandro Dies
“Thank you for your messages of support. @drenadeniro and our families are grateful. 🦁You can’t spell Love without Leo,” Carlos wrote alongside the Instagram reel, which was set to Hollow Cove’s “Blessings.”
Carlos’ emotional post also included a statement Drena shared on Instagram on Monday about their son’s tragic death.
“It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo,” the statement read. “We thank you for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we have the privacy at this time to process this inconsolable grief.”
Robert De Niro said to himself “profondément affligé” à la mort de son petit-fils” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BDkcGnl7kEjA_PYdEqJLtg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/e4dded94886817c3b6552da4a11a2d94″ class=”caas-img”/>
Mohammed Badra/Pool/Getty Images
Robert De Niro said he was “deeply shocked” by the death of his grandson
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Robert also shared his grief over the death of his grandson. In a statement to PEOPLE on Monday, the 79-year-old said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo.”
“We greatly appreciate everyone’s condolences. We ask that we be granted privacy to mourn the loss of Leo,” he added of the teenager.
Confirming Leandro’s death on Sunday, Drena shared a photo of her son at an event and wrote that she didn’t know “how to live without you.”
“Rest in peace and eternal paradise my darling boy,” she concluded her tribute.
Drena and her son Leo” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mEUx94fpA_37ZnvDTA8nvg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTg0NA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/0d165e2ea394d5ec371e733880ff1d84″ class=”caas-img”/>
Carlos Mare’s Instagram
Drena and her son Leo
Drena’s loved ones were quick to offer their condolences in the comments section. Actor and musician Lenny Kravitz wrote: “Dear Drena, my deepest condolences to you and the family. This is all beyond words at this time. I love you……”
“Drena is heartbroken for you such a duo, I can’t imagine how you must feel,” model Naomi Campbell added. “May the Lord cover you and hold you in his arms, at this very sad time and loss… I love you, always there for you 🕊️💔🙏🏾.”
A spokesperson for the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information told PEOPLE in a statement Monday that “an 18-year-old male was found unconscious, unresponsive and pronounced dead by EMS at the scene,” after that the police received a 911 at around 2:23 a.m. noon on Sunday.
Drena is the eldest of Robert’s seven children. His mother is his first wife, actress Diahnne Abbott.
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