“Storage Wars” star Darrell Sheets was seen smiling in a photo taken just hours before his sudden death.
In a photo obtained by TMZ, Sheets poses next to two fans at an antique store in Lake Havasu, Arizona, around 5pm local time on Tuesday.
Witnesses told the outlet that he appeared “cheerful and friendly.”
The reality star died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was found dead around 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Lake Havasu Police Department. He was 67 years old.
Sheets starred on the long-running reality show from 2010 to 2023, which followed professional buyers bidding on repossessed and abandoned warehouses in California.
“Storage Wars” rival Brandi Passante paid an emotional tribute on social media, saying she had known him for years and was “speechless.”
She added: “Unfortunately, I lost my parents and siblings in similar circumstances.”
“I am so sorry to hear about the circumstances of his passing,” she wrote, noting that others suffering similarly are not alone and can seek help.
Fellow “Storage Wars” star Rene Nejoda issued a more pointed message in an Instagram video Wednesday, saying she believes cyberbullying played a role in Sheets’ death.
“Recently he was really, really tormented by this guy and was cyberbullying (him),” Nejoda said.
“Darrell has posted a lot about a man who was cyberbullying and tormenting him. I really hope (law enforcement) investigates that guy, but that’s not a free pass,” he continued.
Lake Havasu Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Kyle Ridgway told Page Six: “We are aware of these cyberbullying allegations and this is part of an active investigation.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
