Andrew Truelove, the man accused of storming Today’s studio at New York City’s Rockefeller Center and directing a racial slur toward anchor Craig Melvin on Thursday, appears to have been caught on camera minutes before the alleged incident.
In the video below, a person who appears to be Truelove paces in the background as Melvin and co-anchor Savannah Guthrie report the movements of a record-breaking great white shark. TMZ notes the man in that live shot — which aired around 8:45 a.m. ET that morning — has the same hairstyle, mustache, and clothing with which Truelove was pictured during his arrest.
Around 15 minutes later, Truelove allegedly snuck into the building, per TMZ. Rockefeller Center security personnel told authorities that Truelove gained access to the Today studio by closely following an NBC employee using an ID card to enter the building, according to ABC News.
Truelove allegedly found his way into a stairwell and shouted out to ask about Al Roker’s location before allegedly stepping toward Melvin and using a racial slur.
“The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured. Today is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter,” a statement from Today said, per NBC News.
The statement added: “NBC and Today take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff, and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.”
Truelove faces a count of burglary in the third degree as a hate crime and a count of menacing in the third degree as a hate crime, according to a complaint filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, as NBC News reported later. A judge in the case set bail at $10,000.