Food Influencer Dies in Texas Police Shooting
A popular food influencer with millions of social media followers was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy in Texas over the weekend, in what his family describes as a "horrible accident" that occurred just days after his wedding anniversary.
Michael Duarte, 36, known to his online audience as "FoodWithBearHands", died on November 8 when Medina County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a man threatening people with a knife.
The Fatal Confrontation
According to official incident reports, deputies arrived to find Duarte exhibiting erratic behaviour and making threats to kill everyone present. The situation escalated when Duarte allegedly charged toward a deputy while yelling "I'm going to kill you", despite multiple verbal commands to get on the ground.
The responding deputy discharged two rounds from her duty weapon, striking Duarte. TMZ first reported the influencer's cause of death, though authorities have released limited additional information about the ongoing investigation.
Duarte's talent agency, Alooma Media Group, confirmed his death in a November 9 Instagram post, expressing "profound sadness" at the loss of their "valued client and dear friend".
A Life Celebrated Through Food
Duarte had built a substantial following through his recipe, cooking and grilling videos, with his Instagram bio stating his "purpose is to share to the world food to people who need it the most".
His culinary journey began in California during his teenage years, working with his uncle who owned a small Mexican restaurant. He later worked as a cook in the San Diego area before leaving his job during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on building his social media brand.
Alooma Media Group remembered him as "a true & loyal partner, a trusted collaborator, and above all, a remarkable person" whose "passion, professionalism, and creativity left a lasting mark".
Family Left Behind
The tragedy leaves behind Duarte's wife, Jessica, with whom he had just celebrated nine years of marriage, and their six-year-old daughter, Oakley. His family has established a GoFundMe campaign to support them, noting that Duarte died while traveling in Texas.
The fundraiser page describes the incident as occurring "without warning", leaving Jessica to manage the expenses of bringing her husband back home to California and covering funeral costs.
"We ask that you lift Michael's family up in prayer during this extremely difficult time," the page states, while friends and followers remember a man whose "warmth, kindness, and generosity were felt in every interaction".
The Medina County Sheriff's Office has not yet responded to requests for comment from The Independent as the investigation continues.
