A man who resembled Andrew Truelove, the individual accused of storming the "Today" show set on Thursday, was observed in the background of a live segment approximately 15 minutes before he entered the studio. The video aired at 8:45 a.m. and showed Truelove pacing and smoking outside Rockefeller Center, according to TMZ.
Truelove, 41, reportedly followed a staffer through an "employee’s only area" from the lobby. During an arraignment on Friday, Assistant District Attorney Millicent Kastenbaum stated that Truelove then encountered co-host Craig Melvin in a stairwell and inquired about Al Roker's location. According to the criminal complaint and sources, Truelove also directed a racial slur at Melvin.
"I always wanted to call a black famous person the N-word," Truelove allegedly told Melvin. Following this confrontation, security was alerted, leading to Truelove's detention and arrest.
Truelove faces charges of burglary in the third degree as a hate crime and menacing in the third degree as a hate crime. He has a prior felony conviction in New York.
On Friday, Truelove was arraigned on the hate crime charges, and bail was set at $10,000. He is currently being held at Rikers Island, with his next court date scheduled for July 22. If convicted, Truelove faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The security guard who did not prevent Truelove from entering the studio has been fired, Page Six has exclusively reported.
Melvin and Roker have both been granted protective orders against Truelove.
In a statement following the incident, NBC said the "Today" show is "cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter." Melvin addressed the incident on air Friday, assuring viewers he was "safe and sound."