Power Rangers Star Addresses Alleged Assassination Attempt At Phoenix Comicon
Today, one of the many details regarding Matthew Sterling, the 31-year-old man who was arrested with an arsenal at Phoenix Comicon on Thursday, is that he allegedly planned to kill Mighty Morphin Power Rangers star Jason David Frank.
According to azcentral, Sterling -- who painted his face black and wore "all black clothes, a red bandanna and a strap across his chest containing shotgun ammunition" -- arrived at the event with "two 45-caliber handguns, a .454-caliber handgun, and a 12-gauge shotgun, all fully loaded; a combat knife; pepper spray; and throwing stars."
After his arrest, Sterling told police that he belives he is The Punisher -- Marvel's brutal, gun-toting vigilante who wears a skull on his chest -- and allegedly had plans to get in a shootout with police officers and assassinate a Phoenix Comicon performer.
Cops believe the performer Sterling was targetting was Jason David Frank. In Sterling's phone, police found a calendar reminder for May 25 and it read: "Kill JDF." They also found messages in Sterling's phone in which the defendant claims to have stabbed Frank in the past, which doesn't appear to be true at all, and wanted to "finish the job."
Late Friday night, as you can see in the video above, Frank took part in a press conference to address the incident. After making sure to thank the Phoenix Police Department for all their hard work and explaining that he had no prior connection to Sterling, he read off a prepared statement assuring his fans that he is okay and asking those attending Phoenix Comic Con this weekend not to bring prop weapons.
NEXT: Comicon Gunman Allegedly Wanted To Kill Police, Green Power Ranger Actor
After the press conference, Frank went on Facebook Live:
"The reason why I'm a little stressed out today is because I had to do a press conference right now," he said. "There's a lot of stuff going on, a lot of drama in the past few days. I don't let things affect me. I don't let it affect my fans, as well. This is an experience for you guys to come to [Phoenix Comicon], and the last thing you guys want to do is feel the stress of something. So put it this way, I did the best I could for you guys. I hope you guys experienced a great time, because I did. I've never been to Phoenix, and Phoenix [Comicon] said I could come back every year if I want."
"Thank you. Your prayers are always awesome. I really appreciate it," he continued. "I know people are concerned. Don't worry, man. Things are okay. I know God has amazing things in store for everyone, and God always has my back."
"I wanted to say thank you for all your prayers and thoughts," he concluded. "You will start hearing stuff on social media. I'm fine. I'm okay. Love y'all. Even though it looks like things don't faze me, I refuse to have a situation tear me apart...mentally. You gotta remember, things could always be worse. Things could've been worse. But it wasn't. You know, everyone is safe, things are okay, and it's a great thing."
In the original '90s children's television program, Frank portrayed Tommy Oliver, though you know him best as the Green Ranger. What set him apart from the other "teenagers with attitude" is that he was the first evil Power Ranger ever created. He was brainwashed by Rita Repulsa into ambushing and dismantling the Power Rangers. He wreaked havoc on the team until Red Ranger/Jason freed him from Rita's control. After that, Tommy became the new leader of Power Rangers, eventually morphing into the White Ranger.
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