Authorities say Duarte threatened a deputy with a knife during a Nov. 8 disturbance call in Castroville; the Texas Rangers are investigating.
CASTROVILLE, Texas — Michael Duarte, a social media food creator known as “FoodWithBearHands,” was shot by a Medina County sheriff’s deputy during a disturbance call on Nov. 8 and later died at a San Antonio hospital, officials said.
Authorities said deputies were dispatched late that morning to a rental property area off the 1500 block of Houston Street after reports of a man acting erratically with a knife. Duarte, 39, had traveled to Medina County for a barbecue event. The Sheriff’s Office said a deputy confronted him nearby and fired when Duarte advanced while making threats. The Texas Rangers, a division of the state Department of Public Safety, are leading the investigation, which will include body-camera evidence, witness interviews and autopsy findings. Duarte had more than two million followers across platforms for his large-scale grilling videos and elaborate cooks.
According to Medina County officials, the initial call came in just before 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 8 as a mental health disturbance involving a male with a knife. A deputy backing Castroville police encountered Duarte west of the original location. Sheriff’s officials said Duarte shouted that he would kill the deputy and then charged, prompting the deputy to fire two rounds. Duarte was taken by EMS to University Hospital in San Antonio, where he was pronounced dead. “This is a tragic incident for all involved,” a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said in a written statement. The agency did not release the deputy’s name, age or years of service. Officials also did not specify whether the deputy’s patrol vehicle dash camera or a body-worn camera captured the encounter.
The Rangers confirmed they are handling the criminal investigation, standard for police shootings in much of Texas. Investigators are gathering 911 recordings, dispatch logs and on-scene photos, and will submit their findings to the Medina County district attorney for review. The Sheriff’s Office said the deputy fired two shots; it remains unknown how many struck Duarte or whether any less-lethal options were used before gunfire. A law enforcement source told local media the original call referenced a mental health crisis at a short-term rental. Officials have not released toxicology results or the full autopsy, and they have not said whether any surveillance footage from nearby businesses or homes exists.
Duarte, who lived in the San Diego area and grew up in Calipatria, built a large following with videos that featured whole-animal cooks, deep-fried meats and backyard barbecue projects. He was scheduled to appear at a barbecue influencer gathering in Hondo the weekend of the shooting. His agency called him a devoted family man and a creative collaborator. Friends and fellow creators posted tributes highlighting his generosity and willingness to mentor smaller accounts. Duarte spoke publicly in recent years about overcoming a personal crisis during the pandemic and finding stability through food content creation. His accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube collectively surpassed two million followers this year.
In a message posted to Duarte’s social media accounts, his wife, Jessica Duarte, thanked supporters for an outpouring of condolences and said she intends to protect his legacy. “I plan to keep his legacy going not only for him but his family,” she wrote, adding that rumors about the circumstances have been painful. She asked for patience as the official investigation continues and said funeral arrangements would be shared when finalized. Talent partners and brands that worked with Duarte issued statements remembering him for his energy on set and his off-camera kindness. Neighbors in Castroville described a heavy law enforcement presence around midday Nov. 8 as the area near Houston Street was taped off for several hours while state investigators processed the scene.
Texas law requires outside review of most officer-involved shootings, and local agencies typically place involved officers on administrative duty during the inquiry. Medina County officials did not say whether the deputy has been placed on leave, citing the active Rangers investigation. Any decision on charges will rest with the district attorney once the Rangers’ case file is complete. If no criminal charges are filed, an internal administrative review by the Sheriff’s Office is expected to assess whether policy was followed. Public records requests for the deputy’s training history, prior use-of-force reports and disciplinary actions were filed by multiple outlets; those documents had not been released as of Saturday. A timeline for the Rangers’ report was not given.
Residents left flowers at a roadside tree near the rental neighborhood Friday as drivers slowed at the block-long stretch still marked by faint spray paint and gravel scuffs. A neighbor who declined to give his full name said he heard shouting, then two sharp cracks “like a car backfiring,” followed by sirens. In San Antonio, pitmasters who cooked with Duarte recalled his habit of handing out extra plates to bystanders at pop-ups. “He brought a lot of joy to people,” said Seth Morales, a collaborator who filmed with him last spring. “We lost a good man.” A small memorial post remains pinned at the top of Duarte’s Instagram page.
As of Saturday evening, the Rangers’ investigation remained open. Officials said they will release further information when available, including any body-camera recordings and the deputy’s name. A preliminary autopsy report is pending, and service plans are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated November 15, 2025.