Food Influencer Michael Duarte Shot Dead After Allegedly Charging Deputy In Texas Knife-Call Standoff

Two gunshots pierced the Texas afternoon on November 8, 2025, when a Medina County Sheriff’s deputy fired at Michael Duarte, a food influencer with 2 million followers, during a mental health crisis call gone catastrophically wrong. 

Duarte, 39, collapsed in Castroville after charging at the officer with a knife—an ending that would devastate his family, shock the barbecue community, and reignite national debate over how law enforcement handles behavioral health emergencies. 

What Triggered the Emergency Response

At 11:28 a.m. on that November morning, emergency dispatchers in Medina County received a 911 call reporting a male subject with a knife acting erratically at a rental property near Houston Street in Castroville, roughly 25 miles southwest of San Antonio.

 Fire and EMS personnel were already on scene when a female sheriff’s deputy arrived to back up Castroville police officers at the location. Witnesses described hearing a man yelling angrily, screaming that someone needed to “pick me up or get me out of here,” according to local reports and surveillance footage from nearby properties.​

Why Duarte Was in the Area During the Crisis

Duarte had traveled to Medina County to participate in the Texas Open Fire Meat Up, a prestigious barbecue festival scheduled for November 8 in nearby Hondo. The event had officially confirmed his appearance as a featured personality in an October 24 Instagram announcement that drew thousands of likes from his engaged followers. 

He had been authorized to stay in a tent on a rental property with other individuals attending the major barbecue competition, making the location a temporary base for his festival appearance.​

The Escalation

According to the sheriff’s office incident report, Duarte was making threats to “kill everyone” present and attempting to physically assault Fire and EMS personnel who were trying to provide assistance. 

The female deputy issued multiple verbal commands demanding that Duarte get on the ground and comply with police orders. 

The Fatal Decision: Deputy Opens Fire

When Duarte allegedly charged directly at the deputy while shouting, “I’m going to kill you,” the officer made a split-second decision that would end his life. The deputy fired her weapon twice, striking Duarte during the confrontation on the street. 

Emergency medical personnel immediately provided treatment at the scene before transporting him to University Hospital in San Antonio, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, making him another casualty in the complex intersection of mental health crisis and law enforcement response.​

Who Was Michael Duarte? 

Behind the @FoodWithBearHands handle was a 39-year-old content creator who had built one of the most engaged audiences in online barbecue culture. Duarte amassed followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube by sharing creative, over-the-top cooking videos and barbecue recipes that resonated with food enthusiasts worldwide. 

His authentic personality and genuine passion for barbecue made him an official ambassador for Bear Mountain BBQ, one of the industry’s leading equipment manufacturers, amplifying his reach and credibility within the community.​

From Restaurant Worker to Digital Content Creator

Born and raised in Calipatria, California—a small community 140 miles east of San Diego—Duarte worked in various San Diego-area restaurants before his social media breakthrough. He held a position at Dave & Buster’s until the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown forced him to make a career pivot. 

What began as a hobby of posting cooking videos during isolation evolved into a full-time, six-figure content creation business that would eventually reach millions of engaged followers who loved his personality and culinary approach.​

Duarte’s October Mental Health Confession

Just two weeks before his death, on October 25, 2024, Duarte posted a candid Instagram confession that revealed deep personal struggles during the pandemic. He wrote: “I was breaking and had mental health issues that led me to rehab.” 

The post continued with raw honesty about how lockdown “hit me and took a big toll on my confidence,” leaving him feeling like he “had failed at life.” This vulnerability resonated with thousands of followers who appreciated his transparency about recovery and resilience, making the subsequent tragedy even more shocking to his community.​

Celebrating Nine Years of Marriage Days Before the Tragedy

Michael and Jessica Duarte had just celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary days before the incident in Castroville. The couple shared a six-year-old daughter named Oakley and had built a life centered on family, career growth, and community connection. 

Jessica had supported Michael’s rise to influencer status, managing family responsibilities while he traveled to barbecue festivals and content creation events. 

Jessica’s Struggle

In the immediate aftermath of November 8, Jessica Duarte struggled to find the right words to describe her loss publicly. She initially described the incident as a “horrible accident,” a phrase that would soon be replaced with the harsh reality that her husband had been killed by law enforcement during a mental health crisis. 

By November 13, she posted a tribute on Michael’s Instagram page that revealed the depth of her emotional turmoil as she attempted to honor his memory for the millions of strangers who had known him only through screens.​​

Keeping His Legacy Alive

Jessica made a conscious decision to continue sharing Michael’s stories and content, rather than letting his social media presence fade away. She wrote: “I’ve struggled with what to do since his passing, so I’m doing what feels right, and that’s sharing his stories. Whether they be about his content or Mike as my husband, dad, and friend to all.” 

Her commitment to preserving his digital legacy became an act of defiance against the finality of death, transforming grief into purpose and connection with millions of followers who mourned alongside her.​

Jessica’s Faith Response

As weeks passed, Jessica began reframing her grief through a spiritual lens, seeking solace in belief systems that might explain why such a tragedy had occurred. She shared: “I’m still struggling with the fact that he is no longer with us, but I’m starting to see his purpose was SO much bigger. 

I’m starting to see God work in mysterious ways that I’ve never experienced before, and hoping that will bring our family some peace.” 

Countering Misinformation

Jessica explicitly asked the public to refrain from sharing false or exaggerated claims about Michael’s death on social media platforms. Her request highlighted a critical issue families face when high-profile deaths become subject to online speculation, rumor-mongering, and sensationalized retellings. 

In an era where misinformation spreads faster than verified facts, Jessica’s plea represented a widow’s attempt to protect her husband’s memory from distortion and her own family from additional emotional harm through falsehoods.​

Texas Rangers Investigation

The Texas Rangers assumed lead investigator status over the officer-involved shooting incident, beginning a systematic examination of the circumstances surrounding Duarte’s death. 

As of mid-December 2025, more than a month after the incident, the investigation remained ongoing with full autopsy results still pending final analysis. 

Body Camera Controversy

On November 19, 2025, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office took the unusual step of petitioning the Texas Attorney General’s office to block the release of body-worn camera footage from the incident. 

The Austin-based Bojorquez Law Firm, representing the sheriff’s office, argued that public release of the video would compromise the ongoing Texas Rangers investigation and expose sensitive personal information about the deputy. 

Industry Mourns

Alooma Media Group, the talent management agency representing Duarte, released a statement describing him as “a remarkable person” whose “warmth, kindness, and generosity were felt in every interaction.” The agency emphasized: “Michael’s passing is a tremendous loss to all who knew him.

His legacy of integrity, compassion, and dedication will continue to live on through the lives he touched.” Bear Mountain BBQ, his official equipment sponsor, posted its own tribute, describing Duarte as possessing “a rare gift for capturing the true spirit of BBQ.

Financial Burden

Multiple GoFundMe campaigns were rapidly established following Duarte’s death to support Jessica and Oakley with funeral expenses and the logistical costs of transporting his body back to California for burial. 

The campaigns underscored the unexpected financial devastation that follows sudden death, particularly for families of public figures whose income streams often terminate immediately upon their passing. 

Mental Health Crisis Response

The incident in Castroville represents the tragic intersection of behavioral health crisis, law enforcement response protocols, and the absence of adequate mental health intervention resources in many American communities. 

Duarte’s candid October confession about his mental health struggles and rehabilitation just weeks before his death raises difficult questions about whether alternative crisis response models—such as co-response teams pairing mental health professionals with police officers—might have produced different outcomes. 

Broader Industry Implications

Duarte’s death has sparked important conversations within the content creation and influencer community about mental health resources, burnout prevention, and the psychological toll of maintaining a 2-million-follower presence while managing personal struggles. 

His willingness to discuss his own mental health recovery in October demonstrated the beginning of important dialogue, but his death underscores that disclosure alone cannot substitute for comprehensive mental health support systems. 

What’s Next

As the Texas Rangers continue their investigation and Jessica Duarte carries forward her mission to honor Michael’s memory through his content, larger questions loom about law enforcement training, mental health crisis response protocols, and whether this tragedy might catalyze meaningful systemic change. 

Michael Duarte’s 2 million followers and the barbecue community he touched will watch closely as authorities conclude their investigation and release additional details about what transpired in those fateful moments in Castroville.