NBC 'Today' intruder unmasked as Sandy Hook conspiracy vandal with a chilling criminal past

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The suspect at the center of the NBC 'Today' show studio incident is now facing renewed scrutiny after reports uncovered his past ties to Sandy Hook conspiracy theories and a previous criminal case involving memorials for the victims of the school shooting.

Andrew Truelove’s history has resurfaced in a fresh TMZ report published Friday, July 17, following his arrest in connection with the alarming New York City studio breach.

Andrew Truelove's past revealed

Long before the NBC 'Today' show incident, Truelove had already drawn attention over a criminal case tied to his Sandy Hook conspiracy beliefs.

According to the media reports, he traveled to New Jersey and Connecticut in 2014, where he admitted to taking signs created to honor the children and educators killed in the 2012 school shooting.

The stolen signs were part of memorial efforts at playgrounds and other locations dedicated to the victims, with the report stating that Truelove’s actions were driven by his belief in Sandy Hook conspiracy theories.

The incident later resulted in a guilty plea, and Truelove spent years behind bars for stealing the memorial signs.

Now, that past has returned to the spotlight following his arrest in connection with the alleged security breach at NBC’s Studio 1A in New York City.

Security breach at 'Today' studio

Police reportedly said Truelove was able to bypass security at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza and enter a restricted section of the studio without authorization.

Authorities allege that he was initially searching for longtime 'Today' personality Al Roker.

After he was unable to locate Roker, Truelove allegedly approached Craig Melvin, who was inside the restricted area.

According to police, the encounter escalated when Truelove allegedly moved toward Melvin while using a racial slur. 

Following the incident, the NYPD arrested Truelove, who now faces two hate crime charges. He remains in custody at Rikers Island with bail set at $20,000.

A judge has also issued a protective order preventing Truelove from approaching Melvin, Roker, their residences or NBC properties.

Additionally, as per Page Six, a security guard accused of failing to stop the unauthorized entry has been fired.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed the lapse, with one guard allegedly stepping away while another failed to detect Truelove as he entered the restricted space.

The incident led Melvin and Roker to address viewers the next morning.

Melvin returned to the 'Today' desk on Friday and confirmed that an intruder had entered an unauthorized part of Studio 1A before being detained and arrested, while assuring viewers that he was “safe and sound.”

Roker also expressed gratitude to those who reached out following the unsettling incident.