RACINE - The local gun shop that briefly gained notoriety with an assault rifle raffle has closed - leaving behind at least a few unhappy customers.

Store owner Terry Jackson opened Drop Zone Surplus and Gun last summer at 2501 Douglas Ave. The shop was Jackson's next main venture after he abandoned his nine-month experiment in running Belle City Pawn, the city's only pawn shop at the time.

Drop Zone recently closed, and Jackson did not return phone messages asking for comment. However, Racine Police Department Detective Bill Warmington said Jackson told him the store is permanently closed and he is leaving the area.

During its brief existence, Drop Zone created a blast of publicity, especially in August when Jackson raffled an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle. He said the event raised $1,000 for AmericanSnipers, a national organization comprised largely of law enforcement and past and present military organizations that work to supply sniper equipment for active military personnel.

The raffle brought criticism from gun control advocates including then city alderman Pete Karas, a board member for the Wisconsin Anti Violence Effort Educational Fund, a grass-roots organization dedicated to reducing gun violence. Karas questioned the wisdom of holding a raffle that would put an assault rifle "on the streets of Racine."

Bryan Pelz, a Kenosha County deputy, won the drawing for which Jackson sold 100 tickets at $10 apiece.

Following that, Jackson announced at least one more gun raffle, offering as the prize an AR-15. handgun or $300 store credit. The proceeds from that event, like the first, were to go to charity.

With the store now closed, at least three people complain they did not get guns or money from Jackson that rightfully belonged to them.

Rodney Finley of Racine filed a police report on April 28 alleging theft by fraud at Drop Zone. About two weeks earlier, Finley said, he paid $250 there for a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun. When the required 48-hour waiting period elapsed, the store was closed.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Finley said no one from Drop Zone had contacted him despite the police report.

Jim Woolrage of Caledonia said he was another victim. Woolrage said he had two guns at Drop Zone on consignment: a .22-caliber pump rifle; and a .22-caliber pellet gun.

Woolrage said Jackson told him that both guns were sold and he was awaiting payment - but as of Monday Woolrage was still waiting for his money.

Jim Graham of Racine said he had a similar experience with a .38-caliber Rossi revolver he placed on consignment at Drop Zone. Graham said Jackson had his name and number, but he has not been contacted about having the gun returned to him.

"The bottom line is this," Graham said Tuesday. "This is a weapon that I would think the police would be more concerned about - a weapon kind of being in limbo."

Department spokesman Sgt. Bernie Kupper said, "We will go out of our way to make sure this is thoroughly investigated. … If there is an opportunity to refer this for prosecution we will, and the (district attorney's) office will decide whether to bring charges."

Racine police say that anyone else with a situation related to Drop Zone may contact the detective bureau at (262) 635-7756.