New details are emerging regarding the final hours of food influencer Michael Duarte, who died on November 8 after being shot by police in Castroville, Texas. A neighbor of the property where Duarte was staying has shared more information about the events leading up to the fatal incident.
The neighbor, who requested anonymity, described the occurrence as a “prolonged incident that occurred over several hours.” She called the event “unfortunate and shocking.”
Duarte, known online as FoodWithBearHands, had permission to stay on the property. He was reportedly lodging in a tent outside a house rented by a separate group.
The neighbor stated Duarte was not staying with the group renting the house and they did not know each other personally. However, they were all apparently part of a business event.
Duarte was in town for the Texas Open Fire Meat Up, a barbecue festival scheduled for November 8.
The neighbor understood Duarte was traveling with another man who was concerned for him. It remains unclear if this man contacted law enforcement.
Property cameras on the three-acre site reportedly showed people walking toward the house from the street. At one point, Duarte was seen on camera looking “disheveled.”
The shooting itself took place in the street, according to the neighbor. She understood Duarte “reported or threatened he had a weapon and planned to use it,” but did not know the type of weapon.
Separate reports indicated the food influencer allegedly threatened an officer with a knife.
The neighbor also claimed there were “indications of blood on the property, away from the shooting area.” Blood was also reportedly found in the tent, which contained two sleeping bags.
Bianca Haseloff, a local real estate agent, recounted hearing a man scream and what “sounded like two gunshots” nearby. She was showing a vacant lot to a client at the time.
Haseloff told Us, “As we were talking, we heard someone scream, very loudly, and it sounded pretty erratic.” She specifically heard a man yell, “Someone has to come get me! Someone has to get me out of here!”
She added, “It sounded like someone yelling, ‘Stop! Or drop that!’ But it was like a lot of yelling all at once.”
Before the gunshots, Haseloff stated she heard a man “screaming very loudly, and he sounded very angry.” She distinctly heard him repeatedly say, “Someone has to pick me up or get me out of here.”
The Medina County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson confirmed details to TMZ on November 12. Duarte was shot by police in Castroville after officers responded to a 911 call.
The sheriff’s office reported that the call described a “man with a knife acting erratically.” This individual was later identified as Duarte.
Upon arrival, officers encountered Duarte, who allegedly approached an agent in a threatening manner. Officers issued “several verbal commands” to “get on the ground.”
Duarte then reportedly “lunged” at the agent. The spokesperson stated Duarte shouted, “I’m going to kill you,” as he moved toward one of the officers.
The officer then discharged his weapon twice, striking Duarte.
Duarte received medical assistance at the scene. He was transported to University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, where he was pronounced deceased.
News of Duarte’s death became public on Wednesday, November 12. A GoFundMe page was created to cover funeral expenses and support his family.
Duarte, who had amassed over 2 million social media followers for his food videos, is survived by his wife Jessica and their 6-year-old daughter, Oakley.
The GoFundMe page stated, “The world may know him as ‘FoodwithBearHands,’ but to us he was a loving husband, father, brother, and a great friend to many.” It described his passing as a “horrible accident.”
The description continued, “This loss came without warning, leaving Jessica with the responsibility of bringing him back to California and covering funeral expenses.” It urged support to provide comfort and stability for Jessica and Oakley.