‘Today’ suspect caught on camera before hate crime arrest, rap sheet reveals attempted kidnapping conviction
The man accused of committing a hate crime against "Today" show co-host Craig Melvin at NBC's Manhattan studio has a criminal history spanning more than two decades, including a conviction for attempted kidnapping, according to court records. The case has drawn attention because the suspect was captured on camera entering an unauthorised area of Studio 1A before his arrest, raising questions about security at the high-profile broadcast set.
New York City police arrested 41-year-old Andrew Truelove last week following the incident, which prompted NBC's "Today" hosts to publicly address the security breach on air, confirming the intruder was detained quickly and that the network is cooperating with an NYPD investigation. Court records show Truelove's rap sheet includes trespassing charges alongside the attempted kidnapping conviction, though full details of the current hate crime charge against him were not disclosed in the available report.
- Andrew Truelove, 41, arrested after approaching Craig Melvin at NBC studio
- Court records show decades-old attempted kidnapping conviction
- "Today" hosts confirmed intruder was caught on camera, arrested quickly
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Truelove was captured on studio cameras, and the assault on Craig Melvin apparently followed. Studio 1A, where "Today" is filmed, sits behind glass in Rockefeller Center and is designed to let passers-by watch the show being made, which has long meant balancing openness with security. Craig Melvin is a co-host of the programme; the alleged attack on him is being treated by police as a hate crime, meaning prosecutors believe he was targeted because of his identity.
The suspect, 41-year-old Andrew Truelove, was arrested by the New York Police Department last week. Court records show he has a criminal history going back more than two decades, including a prior conviction for attempted kidnapping and various trespassing offences, which has fuelled scrutiny of how someone with his record was able to get near the set.
The story matters because it touches on both the safety of a major live broadcast watched by millions each morning and broader questions about how such incidents are classified and prosecuted. NBC has confirmed it is cooperating with the NYPD's investigation, and the "Today" hosts have addressed the breach publicly, but many specifics of the current charges against Truelove have not yet been made public.