NEW YORK — A man was taken into custody after sneaking into NBC’s Rockefeller Center studios on Thursday morning and confronting “Today” show co-host Craig Melvin, according to police and network officials.
Suspect Identified and Charged
Andrew Truelove, 41, of Manhattan, has been charged with burglary as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime, criminal trespass as a hate crime and harassment, police said. He has not yet been arraigned.
Authorities say Truelove made his way past studio security and into a restricted area near Studio 1A, where he came face to face with Melvin.
What Happened Inside the Building
According to a law enforcement source, Truelove was actually looking for longtime weather anchor Al Roker when he encountered Melvin instead. Police say Truelove repeatedly shouted a racial slur during the confrontation.
Officers also noted that some of his statements suggested he may be emotionally disturbed. An NYPD officer who was working a paid detail at the building was able to detain him quickly, and he was taken into custody without further incident around 8:57 a.m.
No injuries were reported, and police describe the investigation as active and ongoing.
A Pattern of Prior Arrests
Court records show this is far from Truelove’s first run-in with the law. He was arrested multiple times over the past year, including twice in May on charges of criminal trespass and reckless endangerment.
In June 2026, he pleaded guilty to felony criminal mischief tied to damage he caused to several vehicles and was sentenced to six months in jail along with five years of probation and several hundred dollars in fees.
It remains unclear how much of that sentence he had actually served before Thursday’s incident. He also has three separate pending cases in New York, where he has pleaded not guilty to charges that include misdemeanor assault, reckless endangerment, and trespassing on railroad property.
Melvin and NBC Respond
Craig Melvin, 47, addressed the incident publicly later that day, thanking fans for their concern and reassuring them he was unharmed. He said he was looking forward to being back on air the next morning, though he does have a previously scheduled vacation set to begin the following Monday.
NBC News confirmed the security scare in a statement, explaining that the individual entered an unauthorized area near the studio and approached Melvin, who immediately alerted security.
The network emphasized that there was no physical altercation and no one was hurt. NBC said it takes the safety of its employees, talent, and guests extremely seriously and is now reviewing the incident along with its overall security protocols to prevent similar situations going forward.
The case remains under investigation, and it is unclear when Truelove will next appear in court.
