Darrell Sheets’ ‘Storage Wars’ rival Brandi Passante has paid an emotional tribute to him following his tragic death.
The reality star died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the Lake Havasu Police Department. He was 67 years old.
Passante, who competed against Sheets on “Storage Wars,” posted on Instagram on Wednesday a photo of the two together over the years.
In the first photo in the carousel, Ms. Passante smiles as Sheets playfully points at her. Passante said she had known Sheets for years and was now “speechless.”
“I am so sorry to hear of the circumstances of his passing,” she wrote.
“My heart breaks for Brandon, Zoe and Kimber,” Sheets said, referring to his wife Kimber, son Brandon and granddaughter Zoe. “Unfortunately, I also lost my parents and siblings in similar circumstances.”
Passante shared resources for people dealing with mental health issues.
“If you’re struggling, if you’re feeling hopeless, or if you feel like no one cares, I want to say to you: I guarantee you they do!! You are not alone,” she wrote.
“Get help. You’re not taking away your pain, you’re transferring it to someone else. The grief from suicide never ends. There’s always help… Dial 988 on your phone and you’ll be connected to counselors and resources. Never suffer in silence! 💜💜💜.”
Passante, 45, has appeared on A&E’s “Storage Wars” since season 1, which premiered in 2010.
Sheets appeared on the long-running reality show from 2010 to 2023, which followed professional buyers bidding on repossessed and abandoned storage units in California.
Fellow “Storage Wars” star Rene Nejoda said in an Instagram video Wednesday that 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.
