Storage Wars alum Darrell Sheets reportedly met with fans prior to his death at age 67 in an apparent suicide.
Sheets posed for photos at his Lake Havasu City, Arizona, antique shop Havasu Show Me Your Junk at around 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday, April 21, per TMZ. The Storage Wars star can be seen smiling and giving a thumb’s up to the camera in images obtained by the outlet, with the fans describing him as friendly and upbeat during the encounter.
A Lake Havasu City Police Department confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday, April 22, that officers responded to a call about a “reported deceased individual” earlier in the day and later “pronounced [Sheets] deceased on scene.”
“The male subject has been identified as Darrell Sheets, a 67-year-old resident of Lake Havasu City and Darrell’s family has been notified,” a police spokesperson told Us. “This incident remains under active investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
Sheets was survived by his son and Storage Wars costar, Brandon “The Sidebet” Sheets, as well as daughter Tiffany Shane Sheets and granddaughter Zoie. He was previously married to Kimber Wuerfel before separating in 2016.
As an original cast member on Storage Wars, Darrell was known affectionately by the nickname “The Gambler.” Many of his Storage Wars costars have paid tribute since news of his death broke, including Brandi Passante of the A&E show’s “Young Guns” duo.
“I’ve known Darrel [sic] Sheets for many years. I’m just so very sorry, to hear the circumstances of his passing,” she shared via Instagram on Wednesday. “My heart hurts for [his son] Brandon, [his granddaughter Zoie], and [ex-wife] Kimber. I unfortunately lost a parent and a brother to similar situations. I would like to say to everyone, if you are struggling, if you feel hopeless or like no one cares. I assure you they do!! You are not alone.”
Rene Nezhoda — a frequent rival to the Sheets family on Storage Wars — suggested that Darrell was dealing with cyberbullying before his death.
“I know Darrell would want something positive out of this. He had a guy really tormenting him lately on cyberbullying,” Nezhoda revealed to TMZ. “Just cause you watch us on television doesn’t mean you know us … it doesn’t mean you know what we’re about. Also it doesn’t entitle you to bully somebody.”
Nezhoda went on, “You shouldn’t cyberbully at all. As a matter of fact. If you have somebody in your life that thinks its fun to cyberbully other people, maybe a celebrity athlete or a little girl or school or schoolmate, slap [them] in the back of the head. Make them become a better human being, because you never know what demons somebody faces and what they go through and what you might push them through.”
A&E also paid tribute to Darrell’s legacy after airing more than 340 episodes of Storage Wars since 2010. (Darrell stepped back from Storage Wars after suffering a heart attack in 2019 but continued making sporadic appearances until 2023.)
“We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets,” a network rep told Us on Wednesday. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
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