Who was the food influencer who was killed in a “tragic accident”?

Michael Duarte, a popular food influencer known for his recipe videos, died on November 8 in Texas at the age of 39.

His death was confirmed via Instagram by Aloma Media Group, his talent agency, in a post the next day. The GoFundMe page, also shared by Aloma, cites a “horrific accident” as the cause of Duarte’s death, revealing that he died during a trip to Texas.

“We ask that you keep Michael’s family in your prayers during this extremely difficult time,” the fundraiser description reads. “This tragedy occurred without warning and Jessica was left with the expense of bringing him back to California and paying for the funeral.”

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The content creator — known online by the username “FoodWithBearHands” — was shot by police and later pronounced dead at a hospital, a Medina County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told TMZ.

Police officers responded to a 911 call in Castroville, Texas, regarding a disturbance involving “a male subject with a knife acting suspiciously.” A female officer fired two shots from her service weapon, hitting Michael, according to local news.

Duarte had more than 2 million followers on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Cooking videos and recipes, especially grilled ones, are circulated on social media.

They posted on their Instagram account: “Michael was more than just work. A proud father who shined every time he spoke about his daughter. A devoted husband whose love for his family was at the center of everything he did. A kind man with a generous heart, whose warmth and kindness touched everyone he met.”

“There is no replacement for someone like Michael,” they wrote in announcing his death. “His loss leaves a space that can never be filled, but his spirit, energy, passion and creativity will always be a part of us.”

The influencer grew up in Calipatria, California, a small town near the US-Mexico border. At the age of 14, he started working at a Mexican restaurant owned by his uncle – who he described as his “mentor” in an Instagram post – in which he revealed how he learned to cook.