Dollar Tree is home to discounted goods, but according to reports around the country and a lawsuit filed in San Diego, it’s become a place where attorneys say disturbed men are involved in “gooning,” where they ejaculate or wipe their semen on women. “It’s disgusting,” said Dollar Tre e shopper Carolyn on Wednesday. “You know? It’s like what is wrong with people?”  According to the civil suit, during about a week’s time starting March 1 of 2025, the same man sexually assaulted three different women at the Dollar Tree store on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Clairemont. The Marine Corps says it is aware of the allegations against one of its Marines, but San Diego police are handling the case since it was off-base. An online search shows the suspect was not in jail as of Wednesday. NBC San Diego contacted police for more information on the suspect but they did not get back to us in time for publication of this story. Attorney Alreen Haeggquist represents one of the women allegedly accosted at the Clairemont location, who has only been identified in the suit as Jane Doe. “She kind of noticed the presence of somebody behind her and felt him wipe something on her. She realized it was semen,” said Haeggquist. In addition to the Clairemont incidents, the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office says that two other lewd acts happened this year at Dollar Trees in Lemon Grove and Spring Valley. No one has been caught. In the suit, Jane Doe says when she told a clerk about what happened to her at the Clairemont store, she was told the camera in the aisle wasn’t working. “Dollar Tree is not staffing the people there,  because in order to cut costs, they don’t have operable cameras. So, they’re not taking security footage and it’s become a breeding ground for these sexual assaults to occur,” says Attorney Haeggquist. A company spokesperson issued a statement saying: The safety and security of our associates and customers are our highest priorities. We take reports of inappropriate, unlawful, or harassing behavior in our stores extremely seriously. Any incident of this nature is unacceptable, and when we become aware of criminal activity, we cooperate fully with law enforcement and support their investigations. Dollar Tree is committed to having effective safety and security programs. Through policies, training, and operational procedures, we work to maintain a safe and secure environment for associates, customers, and visitors. Our efforts include ongoing safety education, regular policy reviews, risk assessment and mitigation activities, investments in physical security measures, and collaboration with local law enforcement. We continuously evaluate and strengthen these programs as part of our commitment to the wellbeing and safety of everyone in our facilities. The suit claims at least 11 women across the country have reported being assaulted in similar ways while shopping at Dollar Tree locations. Attorney Haeggquist says videos of the incidents are posted on porn sites and social media. “This is a phenomenon happening across the country, so much so that there’s a crypto coin for the ‘Dollar Tree Gooner’. There is a Pokemon card for the ‘Dollar Tree Gooner’. There’s a soundtrack for this conduct,” Haeggquist said. Dollar Tree shopper Jane Brown is repulsed by the allegations of what happened at the Clairemont store, but says the staff has always been engaging with the public. For now, she’s just happy the suspect was caught. “I hope that they prosecute him to the fullest. He has no business being out in the public, and I’m glad they caught him because there’s a good chance that things could have escalated,” said Brown. ...read more read less