Food influencer Michael Duarte fatally shot by deputy during Texas disturbance call

12 November 2025

Michael Duarte. Michael Duarte/Instagram

Popular food influencer Michael Duarte who created online content under the name “FoodWithBearHands” and had amassed over 2 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube died on November 8, 2025, after being shot by a deputy in Medina County, Texas, following a disturbance call.

Duarte, 39, was in Castroville responding to a call involving a male subject with a knife acting erratically and threatening emergency personnel when deputies arrived around 11:28 a.m. According to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, the subject was reportedly “exhibiting erratic behavior” and making threats to “kill everyone” and to assault fire and EMS staff.

Upon arrival the deputy repeatedly ordered Duarte to get on the ground and drop the knife, but the sheriff’s office says he ran toward the deputy while shouting “I’m going to kill you.” The deputy then fired two rounds striking Duarte, who was transported to University Hospital in San Antonio where he later died.

Before his death Duarte shared that he grew up in Calipatria, California, and began cooking at age 14 in his uncle’s Mexican restaurant. After experiencing a mental-health crisis and going into rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic he found a new path by creating cooking and barbecue videos online. As his Instagram bio stated, his purpose was “to share to the world food to people who need it the most.”

His talent agency, Alooma Media Group, released a statement calling Duarte “a devoted husband to his wife Jessica, a loving father to his daughter Oakley, and above all a remarkable person.” They said his passion, professionalism and creativity left a lasting mark and that his legacy of integrity, compassion and dedication will continue to live on through the lives he touched.

Within hours of his death being announced, a GoFundMe was set up to support his family, noting the event came “without warning,” and highlighting funeral costs and efforts to return his body to California.

The incident is now under investigation, with the Texas Rangers assisting in the review of the shooting. Duarte’s wife, Jessica, in a tribute post asked the public and media to refrain from sharing unverified information about his death.

Duarte’s death has sparked broader conversations about influencer culture, creator vulnerability, mental-health issues and interactions between high-visibility individuals and law-enforcement. His community remembers him for more than his recipes or videos they remember his warmth, storytelling and authenticity.