The security guard who failed to keep the TODAY show intruder out of the studio has been fired.
Surveillance video captured the oversight, showing the suspect, Andrew Truelove, slipping past two security guards. One guard stepped away while the other "missed the intruder" as he walked in.
Police say Truelove broke into the TODAY show studio in New York City on Thursday, searching for Al Roker. The suspect allegedly yelled racial slurs before confronting host Craig Melvin.
NYPD quickly took the suspect into custody, and he is now facing two hate crime charges following the aggressive encounter.
Host Craig Melvin appeared to be in good spirits on Friday morning, despite the earlier security breach. He remained on the show for two hours before secondary hosts stepped in during the show's 9 a.m. hour.
About 30 minutes into the 7 a.m. hour, Melvin and the team addressed the Thursday security breach. Melvin said, "We want to take a quick moment to address what happened yesterday. You may have heard that unfortunately an intruder made his way into an unauthorized area here at Studio 1A. Thankfully, he was apprehended quickly, he was placed under arrest. We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they investigate the matter and we are just very happy that everyone is safe."
Co-host Savannah Guthrie was not on the desk with her co-hosts on Friday, stating she was taking a "long weekend." Melvin left early Friday for a previously planned vacation.
