Rodeo action at the Smackdown at Fuji Park in Carson City, Nev., on Friday, June 5, 2015.
Manuel Souza is bringing back his Smackdown Bull Riding tour to Carson City — this time as a fundraiser for Deputy Carl Howell, who was killed in the line of duty in August.
“I think it’s the right thing for us to do as people,” said Souza, who’s working in cooperation with the Carson City Sheriff’s Deputy Association. “Police officers do a thankless job. But they’re always there when you need them, aren’t they? I think it’s important we do this.”
Howell, a Carson City Sheriff’s deputy for nine years, was shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute Aug. 15. He leaves behind a wife and four children.
The Howell Memorial Smackdown will be Saturday at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Children are $10. All proceeds will go to the Howell’s family.
Souza said it’s going to cost about $8,500 to put on the event and is hoping businesses are going to pledge sponsorships to take care of that cost.
Anything raised over that amount, he said, will go the family.
“I’m not interested in making $1 off of this,” he said. “Our goal is get enough sponsors so that 100 percent of the ticket sales go to the family.”
Souza, who has been producing bull riding events in Carson City for the past three years, said he wanted to help as soon as he learned about the shooting.
“We built this tour beyond my wildest dreams,” he said. “We’ve gotten tremendous support from this community. It’s important that we give back.
“I heard Carl and his wife enjoyed coming to our shows. I want to do this for them. For his kids.”
The show will feature bulls and broncs, as well as mutton busting and steer riding for the children.
“I think it’s going to go really well,” Souza said. “I think it’s going to be an outstanding event.”
He said L. Lance Gilman Real Estate has committed $2,000 to the event and is collecting sponsorships from other businesses.
He’s confident the community is going to come out to the event as well.
“It’s a really good way for the ordinary person to support the Howell family,” he said.