Full Breakdown
Dollar Tree Stores Targeted in Alleged “Gooning” Assaults: Lawsuit and Criminal Charge Highlight Emerging Trend
8/11/2026, 3:44:56 AM
Core Incident in San Diego
In March 2025, three women shopped at the Dollar Tree on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in San Diego when a man followed each of them. They later found a suspicious substance on their clothing; one woman also discovered it in her hair. Police affidavits say two women and a store manager identified the same suspect from a photo lineup, while the third selected the suspect and a look-alike. A 22-year-old U.S. Marine was charged with misdemeanor lewd conduct and misdemeanor sexual battery and has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Isaac Blumberg, noted the record consists solely of allegations.
Broader Pattern and Civil Action
A lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court on behalf of one Clairemont victim alleges the three incidents are part of a nationwide pattern of “public gooning” inside Dollar Tree stores. The complaint cites at least 11 women across the United States who have reported similar assaults, including incidents in Lemon Grove and Spring Valley reported in 2026. Plaintiffs argue the chain’s understaffing and security gaps have turned stores into “hunting grounds for sexual predators.”
Background on the “Gooning” Phenomenon
The behavior—men masturbating in public spaces and ejaculating on unconsenting women for sexual gratification or online notoriety—has been labeled “gooning,” “sharking,” or “cum-sharking.” A 2024 Guardian investigation traced similar incidents to at least a dozen states since 2017, identifying 63 documented sex crimes linked to discount-store settings, 16 involving masturbation or ejaculation. Researchers noted a rise in reports after 2020 and an online subculture that encourages recording the assaults.
Official Responses
Dollar Tree pledged cooperation with law-enforcement investigations and described ongoing safety-education, policy review, risk assessment, and physical-security measures. San Diego police reported that laboratory testing of the first victim’s clothing did not yield DNA or confirm semen, while testing of the second victim’s stains was “presumptively positive for semen” but could not be matched to the suspect’s DNA. The Marine Corps declined comment on the defendant’s duty status.
Criticism and Opposition
Plaintiff attorneys, including Clemency Condry, called the online subculture “horrifying” and argued Dollar Tree’s security deficiencies facilitate the assaults. Ed Blizzard, counsel for a Texas plaintiff, said researchers uncovered multiple similar incidents nationwide, suggesting a coordinated pattern.
On-the-Ground Reports
Another victim said a store manager informed her that the surveillance camera covering the aisle where the alleged assault occurred was not functioning.
Data and Statistics
- Three alleged assaults occurred at the Clairemont Dollar Tree over two weekends in March 2025.
- Two additional incidents were reported in East County (Lemon Grove and Spring Valley) in 2026, bringing the local total to five possible cases.
- The civil complaint references at least 11 women nationwide with similar reports.
- The Guardian’s 2024 investigation documented 63 sex-crime incidents linked to discount-store settings, 16 involving public masturbation or ejaculation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Laboratory analysis produced inconclusive results: no DNA was recovered from the first victim’s clothing, and while the second victim’s stains were “presumptively positive for semen,” investigators could not compare the suspect’s DNA to the evidence. No public evidence links the San Diego Marine to the broader online “gooning” community, nor have suspects been identified in the Lemon Grove and Spring Valley cases.
What’s Next
The civil lawsuit remains pending in San Diego Superior Court, and investigations into the additional East County incidents continue. No further scheduled hearings or deadlines have been disclosed.
