Authorities are diving deep into the investigation of a tragic law enforcement shooting that took the life of a renowned food influencer in Texas over the weekend, officials announced on Thursday. Michael Duarte, better known as “foodwithbearhands” to his nearly 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, was fatally shot in Medina County, west of San Antonio, according to a spokesman from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Orlando De Luna Jr. characterized the incident as an “officer-involved shooting” and revealed that it is currently under active scrutiny by the Texas Rangers. He declined to provide further insight into the circumstances surrounding Duarte’s demise.
The shooting was first reported by TMZ. Reaching out to Duarte's relatives on Wednesday, they declined to comment, while a spokesperson for the Medina County Sheriff’s Office redirected any questions about the incident to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
An online fundraiser set up for Duarte's family described his death as a “horrific event” that transpired during a trip to Texas. Duarte passed away just three days after celebrating his ninth wedding anniversary, as per the fundraiser's details.
“To the world, he might have been known as ‘FoodwithBearHands’, but to us, he was a devoted husband, father, brother, and a cherished friend to many,” reads the fundraiser's message.
Duarte frequently showcased his barbecuing and grilling skills on social media. A brief bio on his Instagram account revealed that he picked up cooking skills as a teenager at a relative's Mexican restaurant in California’s Imperial Valley. He later worked as a dishwasher and manager at various restaurants before turning his passion for cooking into a hobby during the pandemic. Despite experiencing a mental health crisis during this time, Duarte returned to the restaurant industry and started posting videos about food on his days off.
"As time went on, I realized this wasn't just a hobby—it could be a business, something bigger than myself," the bio concludes, highlighting Duarte's transformation from a passionate amateur to a promising food entrepreneur.
