Food influencer known as 'FoodWithBearHands' reportedly fatally shot by deputy in Texas

A lawman for the Medina County Sheriff’s Office successful Texas fatally changeable California-based nutrient influencer Michael Duarte past week, a constabulary spokesperson confirmed to TMZ.

The outlet reported connected Wednesday that Duarte, who amassed a pursuing connected societal media arsenic “FoodWithBearHands,” died Nov. 8 aft deputies responded to a disturbance telephone successful Castroville, Texas. Law enforcement reported to a “male taxable with a weapon acting erratically.” The spokesperson alleges that Duarte threatened and approached the responding deputy, and did not travel galore “verbal commands” to get connected the ground.

“Duarte charged toward the lawman portion yelling, ‘I’m going to termination you,’” the spokesperson told TMZ. The spokesperson added that the lawman fired 2 rounds from her “duty weapon” and struck Duarte. He was reportedly fixed aesculapian assistance astatine the country and transferred to a adjacent hospital, wherever helium died. He was 39.

Neither representatives for the Medina County Sheriff’s Office oregon Duarte instantly responded to requests for confirmation connected Wednesday.

Barbecue pellet institution Bear Mountain BBQ announced Duarte’s decease connected Tuesday successful a associated connection shared to his Instagram page. A GoFundMe fundraiser created to payment his household confirms that Duarte died “in a horrible mishap connected Saturday” portion helium was traveling successful Texas, 3 days aft helium and his woman celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary.

“The satellite whitethorn cognize him arsenic ‘FoodwithBearHands,’ but to us, helium was a loving husband, father, brother, and a large person to many,” reads the fundraiser description. “We inquire that you assistance Michael’s household up successful supplication during this highly hard time, particularly for his 6 twelvemonth aged girl Oakley, and his woman Jessica.”

The GoFundMe seeks to rise $100,000 to enactment Duarte’s household successful covering ceremonial expenses and “bringing him backmost location to California.” Donors person raised much than $65,000 arsenic of Wednesday afternoon.

Duarte, raised successful the godforsaken municipality of Calipatria, began his nonrecreational culinary vocation moving successful respective restaurants successful San Diego, helium said successful October. He began posting videos connected societal media during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a “mental wellness situation that led maine to rehab,” Duarte continued to station cooking videos during his clip off, including his archetypal video, which featured his daughter, helium said.

“That’s erstwhile I realized however blessed creating contented made me,” helium wrote. “Over time, I began to spot it wasn’t conscionable a hobby — it could beryllium a business, thing bigger than myself.”

Over the years, helium shared cooking recipes for alligator, iguana, frog legs, smoked duck and a assortment of different dishes. His YouTube transmission boasts a pursuing of much than 260,000 subscribers and his Instagram leafage touts adjacent more, with 845,000-plus followers.

“He had a uncommon acquisition for capturing the existent tone of BBQ: the smoke, the stories, the laughter, and the emotion for bully nutrient that brings radical together,” Bear Mountain BBQ continued its statement.

The connection added: “But beyond the work, Michael was truthful overmuch more. A arrogant dada who lit up each clip helium spoke astir his daughter. A devoted hubby whose emotion for his household was the halfway of everything helium did. A bully antheral with a generous heart, whose warmth and kindness touched everyone helium met.”