The renowned food influencer Michael Duarte died Saturday after being shot and killed by a Medina County sheriff's deputy in Castroville, Texas, according to authorities.

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. when officers responded to a call to 911 was called about a man armed with a knife who was behaving “erratically.” According to the Sheriff's Office, Duarte was found out of control and threatening to “kill everyone.” Firefighters and paramedics were at the scene, and the influencer allegedly attempted to assault them before officers arrived.

The Moment of the Confrontation

Authorities reported that officers ordered him to drop the knife and get on the ground, but Duarte refused to comply and allegedly attempted to attack one of the officers.

“Duarte lunged at the officer yelling, 'I'm going to kill you!' The officer fired two shots with her service weapon,” the official statement indicated.

The creator was treated at the scene and later transported to a San Antonio hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The family and his manager reported the following day that he had died in what they described as a “horrible accident” during a family trip in Texas.

From the Kitchen to Social Media

Duarte, known online as @FoodWithBearHands, amassed more than 2 million followers of followers thanks to his outdoor cooking videos and original barbecue methods. His approachable and humorous style made him a beloved figure within the digital culinary community.

The influencer had spoken openly about his mental health struggles, recounting in previous posts that he suffered a nervous breakdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, an experience that led him to seek psychiatric help and find a path to recovery in cooking.

“Looking back,“I know that breakdown came from feeling like I had failed in life. The lockdown affected me a lot,” he wrote in one of his posts. Raised by his single mother in Calipatria, California, Duarte learned to cook from an uncle who owned a Mexican restaurant. His mother died of breast cancer when he was 21, an event that, he said, deeply affected him. He lived in San Diego with his wife Jessica and their 6-year-old daughter, Oakley. Through Instagram, Jessica Duarte shared a heartbreaking message: “It’s been 24 hours since my world collapsed. I’m stunned, angry, depressed. There are no words to describe this pain. I never thought I’d be writing this.” “To the world you were a creator, but to us you were a loving husband and father. You didn’t deserve this.” I will love you forever and be strong for our daughter.”

“If everyone could take a moment and pray for our family… My husband, I will miss you until we meet again.”

Medina County authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the altercation. No details have been released regarding what may have triggered the incident or Duarte's mental state prior to the confrontation.