Dollar Tree stores nationwide are facing scrutiny over alleged “public gooning” incidents, now central to multiple lawsuits (KNSD).
In a disturbing turn of events, a mother from Colorado has filed a lawsuit against Dollar Tree, alleging that a man ejaculated on her during her visit to the chain store with her child. The lawsuit contends that the lack of sufficient staff and security measures at the store facilitated such an alarming “public gooning” attack.
“This incident should never have occurred,” Morgan Carroll, representing the victim, stated to The Denver Post. “Dollar Tree has long been aware of significant safety issues affecting not only customers but also staff, especially related to sexual assaults. The persistent understaffing and failure to invest in security are leading directly to assaults that could and should be stopped.”
The legal complaint further highlights that incidents of “public gooning” and “sharking” have surfaced in Dollar Tree outlets across the United States in recent times. As reported by the Post, similar legal actions have been initiated in California and other states, pointing to suspects engaging in groping and depositing bodily fluids on unsuspecting customers.
The narrative has gained traction online, with memes and social media posts about these alleged attacks circulating widely. The woman’s legal counsel outlines nearly twenty-four cases of sexual assaults on women at Dollar Tree locations from 2018 to 2026, documented in the complaint. This includes the purported assault in Colorado Springs and another disturbing episode in Littleton, Colorado, where a woman was reportedly trailed and groped.
“These incidents were clearly foreseeable,” the complaint alleges.
The woman’s lawyers say the same man who attacked her was previously involved in a similar incident at another Dollar Tree in Colorado Springs in 2024. The chain never banned him, according to the complaint.
Police charged the man with indecent exposure and aggravated unlawful sexual contact, per the complaint.
Dollar Tree has not responded to requests for comment about the woman’s lawsuit. When asked about a similar lawsuit filed in San Diego, a company spokesperson told local NBC affiliate KNSD:
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.
Dollar Tree shoppers told KNSD it’s “disgusting” to hear about what’s been allegedly going on at the stores lately.
“What is wrong with people?” one person said.
The attorney representing the victim in San Diego, Alreen Haeggquist, told KNSD, “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 Pokémon card for the ‘Dollar Tree Gooner.’ There’s a soundtrack for this conduct.”
Describing the attack on her client, Haeggquist said, “She kind of noticed the presence of somebody behind her and felt him wipe something on her. She realized it was semen.”
In that case, an active-duty U.S. Marine, identified as 22-year-old Noe Gonzalez Cresencio, is charged with lewd acts and sexual battery.
The post Man follows woman around Dollar Tree as she shops with her child, sneaks up and attacks her from behind with bodily fluids: Lawsuit first appeared on Law & Crime.