Tragic Death of Food Influencer Michael Duarte

The unexpected details surrounding the death of California food influencer Michael Duarte have recently come to light, following his shooting by a Texas sheriff’s deputy over a month ago.

Duarte, who went by “FoodWithBearHands,” was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds, with officials classifying his death as a homicide, according to a spokesperson from the Bexar County Coroner’s Office.

Interestingly, a complete autopsy report hasn’t been made available yet, the spokesperson noted.

The 39-year-old passed away in Castroville, located roughly 40 miles from San Antonio, after emergency services were called to the scene due to reports of a man, allegedly armed with a knife, behaving unpredictably.

Upon the deputies’ arrival, Duarte was reportedly threatening to “kill everyone,” which quickly intensified the situation.

“When the deputy arrived, he was trying to attack the firefighters and paramedics who were already there,” an official explained.

Witnesses indicated that Duarte lunged at the deputy, shouting, “I’m going to kill you,” to which the deputy responded by firing two shots.

The food influencer was hit twice and received initial treatment at the scene before being transported to a San Antonio hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

What instigated Duarte’s alleged aggressive behavior prior to the shooting remains unclear.

Duarte had garnered a significant following of 2 million across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, where he was celebrated for his innovative barbecue recipes and techniques.

In a poignant post shared on October 25, just two weeks before his untimely death, he opened up about the struggles he faced during the COVID-19 lockdown, revealing he experienced a mental health crisis that led him to rehab.

Reflecting on his journey, he noted, “I realized that I felt like I was failing at life,” adding that the lockdown had severely impacted his self-esteem.

Just days before his passing, he celebrated his ninth wedding anniversary with his wife, Jessica.

She expressed that the “outpouring of love” from his supporters has been vital in helping their family through this challenging time.

“While I continue to grapple with his loss, I’m starting to perceive a greater purpose in his life,” she shared on social media.

“I’m beginning to witness the mysterious ways in which God works, and I hope this brings peace to our family.”

Duarte and Jessica are parents to a six-year-old daughter named Oakley.