New London — The 30-year-old man accused of killing Joey Gingerella was arraigned Thursday morning in New London Superior Court on one count of murder and one count of domestic violence.

Dante Hughes, whose head was shaved and who wore a black jacket with a blue collared shirt underneath, appeared briefly before Judge Kevin P. McMahon. Hughes did not speak except to reply "no" when the judge asked him if the protective order, which was added to his file, had been explained to him.

Hughes is accused of shooting Gingerella, 24, outside of Ryan's Pub about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 11, when Gingerella left the bar to try to stop Hughes from assaulting a woman in the parking lot, according to witnesses.

Hughes allegedly fled the scene on foot and was detained by Canadian immigration officials after attempting to enter the country via the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Dec. 13. The bridge, open to vehicle and foot traffic, connects Niagara Falls, N.Y., to Niagara Falls, Ontario.

He was turned over to the United States Marshals Service and held at the Niagara County Jail in Lockport, N.Y., on Tuesday. He was presented at Niagara County Court on Wednesday and returned to detectives from the Groton Town Police Department on Wednesday after waiving extradition, according to a news release issued Wednesday evening.

No new information on the crime was available Thursday, as the arrest warrant in the case was sealed.

Citing Hughes's attempt to flee to Canada, saying "it's right at the top of my list of all time ... biggest flight risk, almost, I've seen," Judge McMahon set his bail at $550,000, cash only.

Prosecutor Michael Kennedy had sought a $1.5 million bond.

The judge transferred the case to the Huntington Street courthouse, where major crimes are heard, and continued it to Jan. 10.

Members of Gingerella's family, including his mother, Tammy de la Cruz, and his stepfather, former Groton Town Council member and newly elected 41st District state Rep. Joseph de la Cruz, were in the courtroom Thursday. When leaving the courthouse, Tammy de la Cruz, clutching a white teddy bear under her arm, said she did not want to comment. Joseph de la Cruz left the courtroom on crutches. Another young woman was carrying a framed black and white photo of Gingerella.

The de la Cruzes helped start the local nonprofit group Community Speaks Out to help connect people struggling with addiction with treatment, speaking at vigils and school events. Gingerella spoke out about his own struggles and had become a symbol of hope for those struggling with addiction.

Hughes appears for several years to have lived out of state, where he acquired a criminal record. Public records indicate he was convicted of unlawfully carrying a weapon, a misdemeanor, in Houston, Texas, in 2005. In 2006, he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, a felony, in St. Tammany County, La., and sentenced to two years of probation.

In 2010, while living in Sugarland, Texas, he was charged with criminal trespass and possession of a controlled substance. He was convicted of the drug charge, which was a felony, and sentenced to four years in prison.

In April, Groton Town police charged him with interfering with an officer, using a cellphone while driving and driving without a license. In June, he received a fully suspended six-month prison sentence followed by one year of conditional discharge.

Day Staff Writer Karen Florin contributed to this report.

j.bergman@theday.com