The man who allegedly stormed the "TODAY" show set Thursday and hurled racist remarks at Craig Melvin seems to have been taped in the background of one of the show's segments just before the whole thing went down.
You can see who appears to be Andrew Truelove hanging outside the studio at Rockefeller Center as Savannah Guthrie and Craig report on a massive 14-foot-long great white shark that may be heading for Cape Cod.
The man who appears to be Truelove can be seen pacing back and forth in the background during the segment ... seemingly smoking. TMZ has not independently confirmed this is the perp, but it looks like this person has the same hairstyle, mustache, and clothing from when he was seen cuffed by cops hours later.
Andrew Truelove -- the alleged "TODAY" show intruder -- got to live out one of his dreams when he called Craig Melvin the n-word ... at least according to cops, who claim he told folks that was on his bucket list.
NYPD released a narrative based on conversations with a couple of people who say they were there ... and one person told them they saw Truelove walk into the 30 Rock lobby and follow an employee into a restricted area of the building.
Another individual -- also anonymous, though it appears to be Craig -- says they saw a defendant at the bottom of a stairwell ... who yelled out their name and then asked for Al Roker.
Officers say they've been informed Truelove "proceeded to take steps toward Informant 2 and stated in substance, you're a n*****. I am informed by Informant 2 that the defendant's conduct made him fear for his safety."
The "Today" show intruder suspect is a conspiracy theorist with a lengthy rap sheet ... which includes doing hard time for vandalizing multiple Sandy Hook Elementary School memorials.
Andrew Truelove -- who's been charged with several crimes connected to Thursday's scary incident involving Craig Melvin andAl Roker -- spent years behind bars after he copped to stealing signs memorializing victims of the deadly school shooting.
The transient suspect is a hardcore Sandy Hook conspiracy nut ... and the Los Angeles Times reported that was his motivation when, in 2014, he traveled to playgrounds in New Jersey and Connecticut to steal the memorial signs.
NBC isn't taking any chances after the frightening security breach at the "TODAY" show ... 'cause TMZ has learned security outside Studio 1A has been significantly increased ... and sources tell us the changes are here to stay.
TMZ has obtained video showing a noticeably heavier security presence outside the "TODAY" plaza and studio entrance Friday morning. In addition to the usual staffing, multiple private NBC security guards and NYPD officers were stationed around the area.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the heightened security measures are permanent, with the network determined to prevent any copycat incidents following Thursday's shocking security breach.
TMZ broke the story ... Andrew Trueloveallegedly slipped past security after entering through the "TODAY" plaza, made his way into a restricted backstage area, then allegedly confronted Craig Melvin, lunging at the anchor while allegedly yelling the N-word.
As TMZ first reported, Melvin and Al Roker have also been granted court-ordered protection against alleged intruder Andrew Truelove. His attorney, Lawrence Gerzog, told TMZ a judge ordered Truelove to stay away from both hosts.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ ... Truelove is prohibited from going near Craig and Al at NBC or at their homes. For now, he's being held at Rikers Island on $20K bail while facing multiple hate crime charges.
Craig briefly addressed the ordeal during Friday's broadcast, telling viewers he was grateful the suspect had been arrested and that no one was hurt.
"TODAY" anchor Craig Melvin doesn't seem too rattled by Thursday's terrifying encounter with a studio intruder ... and while he says it's part of the "wacky" world we live in, he says he feels safe.
We got Craig as he was leaving 30 Rockefeller Plaza on Friday morning ... and he was cool as a cucumber as our photog asked about what happened when a man slipped past security and allegedly lunged at him and hurled a racial slur.
Craig tells us why the incident doesn't have him feeling unsafe ... chalking it up to "a lot of wacky out there."
Seems Craig's chilled out on this since Thursday's incident ... when he apparently told cops the intruder made him fear for his safety.
Craig Melvin and Al Roker are not taking any chances after Thursday's alarming incident at the "Today" show studio ... because they're getting court-ordered protection against alleged intruder Andrew Truelove ... TMZ has learned.
Truelove's attorney, Lawrence Gerzog, tells TMZ ... the judge issued a protective order requiring Truelove to stay away from Al and Craig.
TMZ broke the story ... Truelove was asking for Al after somehow slipping past security, and when he couldn't find Al, he turned his attention to Craig, confronting him in a restricted area and allegedly lunging at him while yelling the n-word.
Craig Melvin-- live on air -- has addressed the shocking "TODAY" show incident that saw a man bypass security and lunge at the NBC host while spewing a racial slur.
Craig briefly brought up the scary situation during Friday's broadcast, saying the man was "thankfully" apprehended quickly, and he and his colleagues are fully cooperating with the New York City Police Department as the investigation continues.
He added, "We are just very happy everyone is safe."
The man accused of barging into the "TODAY" show and confronting Craig Melvin was marched out of an NYPD precinct Thursday ... hours after allegedly slipping past security at 30 Rock.
Check out the video ... Andrew Truelove, who police say is behind the incident, was led out of the station in handcuffs Thursday afternoon. As photographers shouted questions, he asked, "So, you actually heard about what I did?" before repeating the question and saying he'd been cooperative as officers escorted him away.
TMZ broke the story ... Truelove allegedly entered the building from the "TODAY" plaza Thursday morning and made his way into a restricted area after first asking staffers for Al Roker.
The man who allegedly stormed NBC's "TODAY" show offices, lunged at Craig Melvinand called him the N-word is now facing a slew of hate crime charges ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement officials tell TMZ ... Andrew Truelovewas arrested Thursday at 10:39 AM and booked on hate crime burglary, hate crime menacing, hate crime criminal trespass, and harassment charges. NBC Newswas the first to identify Truelove as the suspect.
We broke the story ... Truelove slipped past security and stormed NBC's Rockefeller Center headquarters Thursday morning, trying to find Al Roker before going after Craig.
3:19 PM PT -- The man who allegedly stormed NBC's "TODAY" show offices, lunged at Craig Melvinand called him the N-word is now facing a slew of hate crime charges ... TMZ has learned.
11:05 AM PT -- NBC News' TODAY tells TMZ ... "There was a security incident this morning at the TODAY show studio. An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A. The person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured."
They continue ... "TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter. 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."
A terrifying security breach rocked the "TODAY" show Thursday morning ... a stranger breached security and stormed inside the building from the plaza before allegedly lunging at NBC host Craig Melvin.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the man was asking for Al Roker after somehow slipping past security. We’re told he couldn't find Roker and turned his attention to confront Craig in a restricted area and allegedly lunged at him while yelling the N-word at him.
We’re told the incident happened around 9 AM ET and that staff and security rushed in -- and the intruder was ultimately detained and arrested. The man, who we're told is white and was unarmed, had entered a stairwell and made his way backstage -- we're told near the dressing room, though where exactly is unclear.
The man who allegedly stormed the "TODAY" show set and lunged at host Craig Melvinhas been identified as Andrew Truelove... and TMZ has learned he has a lengthy criminal history, including a felony conviction.
We broke the story ... a man allegedly slipped past security Thursday morning at NBC's Studio 1A and confronted Craig in a restricted area, lunging at him while yelling the n-word. The man was arrested and NBC Newswas the first to identify him as Truelove.
Court records, obtained by TMZ, show Truelove recently pleaded guilty to felony criminal mischief in a case involving damage to multiple vehicles. He was sentenced last month to six months behind bars and five years' probation, along with $375 in fees. It's unclear how much of that sentence Truelove served before Thursday's alleged run-in at "TODAY."
Savannah Guthrie got emotional on "TODAY" as she once again begged for someone with information about the whereabouts of her mother, Nancy, to come forward.
Check out the heartbreaking clip from Tuesday morning -- Savannah says she and her family are living in "agony" and "cannot be at peace" until she is found ... as tears roll down her cheeks.
She once again pleads for anyone with information to come forward, stating ... "No matter how small -- the reward is there -- you can tell us ... please do the right thing, for us, for our family, for our children."
Savannah Guthrie is still grappling with the disappearance of her mom, Nancy ... and she got emotional revealing the advice she believes her mom would be giving her right now.
The "Today" show co-host fought back tears during a conversation with Jenna Bush Hager, opening up about the difficult reality of carrying on with work while still wondering what happened to her mom.
Savannah admitted it hasn't been easy balancing her emotions with the demands of live TV, saying there are times she feels like she has to hold everything together in order to do her job.
Savannah Guthrie is speaking out again about the kidnapping of her mom, Nancy Guthrie, as police and FBI agents continue their desperate search for her after 4 grueling months.
The "Today" show co-host posted a snapshot of a painting of Jesus Christ's ascension on her Instagram stories, tying it to Nancy's February 1 abduction from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
Savannah wrote, "Oh my, my soul, it cries out, soul, it cries out, bring her home." That last part is a clear reference to Nancy, who is 84 and in poor health.
