Darrell Sheets’ “Storage Wars” rival Brandi Passante shared 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 pictures of the two together over the years on Instagram Wednesday.
In the first pic in the carousel, Passante smiles as Sheets playfully points at her. Passante said she had known Sheets for many years and was now “at a loss for words.”
“I’m just so very sorry, to hear the circumstances of his passing,” she wrote.
“My heart hurts for Brandon, Zoe, and Kimber,” she continued, referring to Sheets’ wife, Kimber, son Brandon and his granddaughter, Zoie. “I unfortunately lost a parent and a brother to similar situations.”
Passante shared resources for those dealing with mental health issues.
“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,” she wrote.
“Please reach out for help. You are not taking your pain away, you are transferring it to someone else. The grief from suicide is endless. There is always help … You can Dial 988 on your phone to connect with a counselor and resources. Never suffer in silence! 💜💜💜.”
Passante, 45, has been on A&E’s “Storage Wars” since its first season, which premiered in 2010.
Sheets was on the long-running reality show — which follows professional buyers who bid on repossessed, abandoned storage units in California — from 2010 until 2023.
Fellow “Storage Wars” star Rene Nezhoda said in an Instagram video Wednesday that he believed cyberbullying played a part in Sheets’ death.
“He had this guy, like, really, really tormenting him lately and cyberbullying [him],” Nezhoda stated.
“Darrell has been posting a lot about the guy that’s been cyberbullying him and tormenting him, and I really hope [law enforcement] look into that guy and it’s just not a pass,” he continued.
Sergeant Kyle Ridgway, public information officer for the Lake Havasu City Police Department, told Page Six, “We are aware of these cyberbullying accusations and that is a part of the active investigation.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
