Guelph — There was a large police presence at the Ontario Court of Justice on Tuesday morning for the first appearance of a 24-year-old man, accused of murdering a hotel employee in Guelph last year.

Raja Dosanjh is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Aly Sunderani on March 1, 2016.

Dosanjh was escorted into the courtroom on Tuesday morning. He had been arrested by the RCMP in a traffic stop in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday.

Dosanjh, a tall man with a buzzed haircut and a muscular build, walked into the room with his eyes wide, looking out at three members of Sunderani's family who were seated in the front row. This was the only eye contact he made with the family during the short hearing. For the bulk of the time, he kept his face turned away toward the back wall. On his way out, he covered his face with his hands and shuffled sideways out of the prisoner's box with his back to the gallery.

A woman, believed to be Sunderani's mother, burst into tears following the hearing. The two people she was sitting next to also had tears in their eyes as Dosanjh was led away by police.

During the hearing, members of Guelph's tactical police unit stood guard at the entrance of the building. Anyone looking to sit in the courtroom was searched at the door.

Dosanjh was arrested on a Canada-wide warrant in relation to the death of 35-year-old Sunderani.

On the afternoon of March 1, 2016, emergency services were called to the Comfort Inn Hotel at 480 Silvercreek Pkwy N., in response to a shooting.

Upon arrival, Sunderani, the hotel manager, was found near the front entrance suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to Guelph General Hospital where he died of his injuries.

In the days following the shooting, police were unsure how many suspects they were looking for. Early on in the investigation, police said they believed the incident was a targeted attack and that there was no risk to the public.

Following the hearing on Tuesday, Det. Staff Sgt. Tom Gill echoed the same message — the shooting is believed to have been a targeted attack.

He said the large police presence at the hearing was for security purposes but wouldn't elaborate.

Gill said he wasn't able to comment on whether police were looking for other suspects in connection to the shooting.

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The investigation continues, and officers are asking anyone who may have information about the case to contact Det.-Sgt. David Begin at 519-824-1212, ext. 7226. Anonymous calls can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Dosanjh is to return to court on March 7 by way of video. There is a publication ban on the details heard in court.