Officials with the Bureau of Land Management closed an area in Buckeye well known as a recreational shooting destination in order to repair existing infrastructure.

The worked-on area is also the site of where Kami Gilstrap was struck by a bullet on Jan. 14. She died the next day from her injury.

The area has been closed since last Tuesday.

The BLM said the area is about 1,000 acres of public land north of Miller Road and Interstate 10. The temporary closure is to ensure public safety and to address damage to critical West Valley telecommunications infrastructure.

The BLM is processing an application by Cox Communications to bury a Tartesso fiber optic line under an existing 69-kV transmission and telephone line. Cox has reported vandalism to the fiber optics line running through the area, according to a BLM spokeswoman.

In addition, Cox has reported concerns about damage to their service vehicles repairing the line as a result of irresponsible shooting activities.

“This infrastructure provides vital telecommunications service to approximately 11,000 citizens in a number of communities of Buckeye, in the West Valley,” said Mariela Castaneda, with the Phoenix District of Public Affairs for the BLM. “Cox has reported that interruption to this service has resulted in the inability of residents to reach emergency response services.”

The BLM understands the closure’s impact on recreational opportunities in the White Tanks/Miller Road area, according to a release. However, the BLM maintains the closure is necessary for crews to safely perform infrastructure repair work. Crews will be using heavy machinery and digging large trenches over several months to complete their work. Thus, the closure ensures the safety of the public and crews working in the area, the BLM states.

The BLM continues to work with the Buckeye Police Department as they investigate the death of Ms. Gilstrap.

“Our top priority is always the safety of sportsmen and families who use public lands,” Ms. Castaneda stated. “The application to bury the Tartesso fiber optic line and address issues with infrastructure occurred prior to the fatality in January. When deciding to temporarily close the site, the BLM considered all of these factors.”

When the land will reopen is anyone’s guess. However, it will be determined by the length of time necessary for a number of things: for utility providers to carry out infrastructure repairs, for the BLM to carry out efforts to clean the area of debris and trash, and for the analysis of longer-term management options for the site.

Buckeye police is still looking for information leading up to Ms. Gilstrap’s death. Detective Tamela Skaggs previously said a person shooting in a recreational area like where Ms. Gilstrap was struck must still be responsible for what and where they are shooting.

“The challenge in this investigation will be to determine where this bullet came from and not knowing the identities of those shooting out there,” she said.

Call police at 623-349-6400 with any information.