July 8, 2026, 5:43 p.m. ET
This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
New details have emerged surrounding the circumstances of Darrell Sheets’ suicide.
Nearly three months after the “Storage Wars” star died at the age of 67 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Lake Havasu City Police Department has released its full incident report, obtained by USA TODAY.
Sheets was found dead in his western Arizona home at around 2 a.m. local time April 22, and authorities later confirmed they were investigating “allegations of cyberbullying associated with this case” after the TV personality’s costar Rene Nezhoda alleged Sheets “had a guy really, really tormenting him lately.”
The incident report now reveals authorities located a note hidden in a closet near where Sheets was discovered, which was written in what appeared to be shaky handwriting. It read in part, “I could not take anymore the Facebook bulling.”
Police investigation into Darrell Sheets’ death is complete
Police also interviewed a man identified in the report as the alleged online bully. Investigators said he was “extremely uncooperative,” denied any involvement in Sheets’ death and insisted he was “nowhere near” Arizona at the time. According to the report, the man said he had been receiving “death threats” and declined to answer additional questions.
The night Sheets died, his girlfriend said he was sitting in the garage on his phone after dinner when he received texts from his daughter-in-law saying his girlfriend was “suspicious and that she was stealing money from” Sheets, the report said. His girlfriend noted he “was sad and upset” by the messages.
She told detectives she left to pick up Sheets’ granddaughter for work at about 8 p.m., and when she returned, she told detectives Sheets was in bed. Later that night, she said he couldn’t sleep so he got up, which woke her.
When she went to look for him, she told investigators she saw him in his office chair with what she believed to be a handgun to his head. She said Sheets sounded like he was crying and yelled at her to “go back to bed.”
According to the report, Sheets’ girlfriend pleaded with him while backing away and heard one gunshot. She then called 911.
She later told detectives Sheets had “not been able to sleep” and was “stressed out.” She said he was “dealing with some issues with a male slandering his name,” and explained Sheets’ son had “verbally fought over ‘family drama'” during a recent visit.
Sheets was known for his time on A&E’s hit series “Storage Wars,” which follows buyers of abandoned storage lockers in Southern California hoping to obtain valuable items. He appeared on the show for 13 seasons, earning the nickname “The Gambler.”
After retiring from the world of storage auctions, Sheets moved to Arizona, where he opened an antiques store.
In a previous statement to USA TODAY, A&E said the network was “saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our ‘Storage Wars’ family, Darrell ‘The Gambler’ Sheets,” adding, “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
