Disturbing new details have emerged about the death of food influencer Michael Duarte.
Known across social media as “FoodWithBearHands,” Duarte was fatally shot by law enforcement in Castroville, Texas, on November 8. According to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched after receiving a 911 call reporting a man with a knife acting erratically. A deputy fired two shots, striking Duarte. He later died at the hospital. It’s unclear if Duarte was threatening anyone with the knife before the police arrived.
Duarte, who has over 842,000 followers on Instagram alone, gained over 2 million fans across his social media imprints by sharing barbecue and grilling content. His social media presence focused on spreading joy through food, with his Instagram bio stating, “My purpose is to share to the world food to people who need it the most.”
His death was first confirmed by his agency, Alooma Media Group, which called him “a remarkable person” and “a loving father to his daughter, brother, and a loyal friend.”
A GoFundMe was launched to assist his wife, Jessica, with funeral costs and to transport his body back to California. The page listed that he died in a “horrible incident,” though this week’s update offers a much more grim picture.
