Michael Duarte, known online as “foodwithbearhands,” was fatally shot on Saturday in Medina County, west of San Antonio, authorities said. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) described the incident as an “officer-involved shooting” and said the Texas Rangers are conducting an active investigation. Duarte, who built a social-media following approaching 2 million, died three days after his ninth wedding anniversary, his family’s fundraiser says. Local law enforcement has referred questions to state investigators as relatives declined to comment.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Duarte, aka “foodwithbearhands,” was fatally shot Saturday in Medina County, Texas, DPS officials said.
- The DPS spokesman, Orlando De Luna Jr., identified the case as an “officer-involved shooting” and confirmed a Texas Rangers probe.
- Duarte had nearly 2 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, according to coverage and his public profiles.
- Relatives reached by reporters declined to comment; the Medina County Sheriff’s Office directed questions to the DPS.
- A public fundraiser described the death as a “horrible incident” occurring during a trip to Texas and noted Duarte died three days after his ninth wedding anniversary.
- TMZ published the initial report that prompted wider media attention before official statements were posted.
Background
Duarte rose in popularity by posting barbecue and grilling content and compiled a sizable audience on TikTok and Instagram. His brief Instagram biography says he learned to cook as a teenager at a relative’s Mexican restaurant in California’s Imperial Valley, later worked in restaurants in roles from dishwasher to manager, and began posting food videos during the COVID-19 pandemic. The biography also notes Duarte experienced a mental-health crisis during the pandemic but returned to restaurant work and expanded his online presence.
Officer-involved shootings in the United States routinely prompt state-level investigations when local authorities request outside review or when policy requires independent oversight. In Texas, the Texas Rangers commonly lead probes into law enforcement shootings to establish an impartial factual record before prosecutors decide whether charges are warranted. Public attention is often heightened when the person killed has a large social-media following, producing rapid circulation of unconfirmed details.
Main Event
According to a DPS spokesman, Orlando De Luna Jr., the incident in Medina County occurred Saturday and has been classified as an officer-involved shooting. The DPS statement said the Texas Rangers are actively investigating; De Luna declined to provide additional details about the circumstances. Local officials have deferred to the state agency for updates while investigators collect evidence and interview witnesses.
Media outlets reported the story first via TMZ, which drew immediate public attention and social-media reaction because Duarte had amassed close to 2 million followers. Reporters contacted family members on Wednesday; relatives declined to comment publicly. A Medina County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson referred inquiries to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is handling the investigative lead.
An online fundraiser set up for Duarte’s family said his death was a “horrible incident” that occurred during a trip to Texas and noted the timing relative to his wedding anniversary. Duarte’s social profiles and the fundraiser emphasize his roles as a husband and father as well as his public persona as a food creator who often posted about barbecuing and grilling.
Analysis & Implications
This case highlights the procedural pathway for reviewing officer-involved shootings in Texas: local agencies often step aside while the Texas Rangers conduct a detailed fact-finding inquiry. That investigative sequence is intended to reduce perceived conflicts of interest and to provide evidence for prosecutors who may later evaluate criminal charges. The Rangers’ involvement does not predetermine outcomes; it simply marks the next formal step in the legal review.
High-profile deaths involving influencers create additional scrutiny because publicly circulated videos and community networks can shape early narratives. Investigative teams must balance rapid public demand for answers with methodical evidence collection—witness interviews, body-camera and dash-camera recovery, forensic examinations and timeline reconstruction. Hastily formed public conclusions risk conflating verified facts with speculation, which can complicate subsequent legal and administrative processes.
Mental-health context noted in Duarte’s biography is relevant to public discussion but must not be used to justify or dismiss the lawfulness of force without facts from the investigation. Advocates and officials often call for transparency on whether de-escalation options were attempted and whether alternative responses were feasible. The outcome of the Rangers’ probe could influence local policy debates about training, use-of-force standards and civilian oversight in Medina County and similar jurisdictions.
Comparison & Data
| Fact | Known Value |
|---|---|
| Public handle | “foodwithbearhands” |
| Platform reach | Nearly 2 million followers (TikTok & Instagram) |
| Location of shooting | Medina County, west of San Antonio, Texas |
| Investigative lead | Texas Rangers (via Texas DPS) |
| Family note | Died three days after ninth wedding anniversary |
The table summarizes verified public details disclosed by authorities and family statements. While follower counts indicate Duarte’s public profile, they do not bear on the legal standards that govern use of force. The Rangers’ investigation will focus on objective evidence such as forensic findings, witness accounts, and body- or dash-camera footage if available.
Reactions & Quotes
“This was an officer-involved shooting and is the subject of an active and ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers,”
Orlando De Luna Jr., Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman
The DPS statement framed the event as under formal investigation and declined to release additional information while inquiries continue.
“The world may know him as ‘FoodwithBearHands’, but to us, he was a loving husband, father, brother, and a great friend to many,”
Family fundraiser description (crowdfunding page)
The fundraiser’s language emphasized Duarte’s personal roles and described his death as a “horrible incident,” a characterization that has circulated in social media and fundraising appeals.
“TMZ first reported the shooting,”
Entertainment news outlet report
Early media coverage by entertainment outlets helped bring the incident to national attention, prompting follow-up by traditional news organizations and public-interest reporting.
Unconfirmed
- The precise sequence of events that led to the use of lethal force has not been released by investigators.
- No official information has been published yet about whether involved officers were wearing body cameras or whether video footage exists.
- The identities or number of officers involved have not been disclosed publicly as of the last official statement.
- The motive or whether Duarte posed an immediate threat at the time of the shooting remains unverified pending the Rangers’ findings.
Bottom Line
The death of Michael Duarte, a prominent food influencer, is under formal, active investigation by the Texas Rangers after authorities classified the case as an officer-involved shooting. Key facts—location, involved investigative agency, social-media prominence and family statements—are established; the critical details that explain why force was used remain to be determined by prosecutors reviewing the Rangers’ findings.
Expect investigators to gather forensic evidence, interview witnesses and decide whether body- or dash-camera footage exists and will be released. Public scrutiny is likely to remain high given Duarte’s online profile, but conclusions about legality or policy implications should await the completed investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.