A Toronto man faces murder and assault charges in a string of beatings in Parkdale that terrorized their neighbourhood earlier this year.

Ricardo Morrison, 32, was arrested in May in connection with two of the assaults.

Police announced Thursday that he has been charged with second-degree murder in the March death of 62-year-old George Wass.

Insp. Bryan Bott said Morrison has also been charged with assault causing bodily harm relating to five other victims dating back to Jan 4.

Police have said there were about half a dozen unprovoked assaults in the Parkdale area earlier this year.

The murder charge was welcome news to residents in the neighbourhood.

"I think it’s a good thing because George was a nice guy," one man told CBC's Ivy Cuervo on Thursday.

Attacks left neighbourhood in fear

Back in March, Wass was beaten on the steps of this rooming house and later died.

For months people in the community lived in fear as masked man made the rounds in their community, attack friends and neighbours in blind-side attacks.

The assaults prompted some people in the neighbourhood to take action.

Paisley Rae posted a video on YouTube to rally support and help police find the suspect.

"I walked around the neighbourhood taking photographs trying to get the neighbourhood to tell the story of what was happening, and just pleading with people," she told CBC.

Police would not say if Morrison lived in Parkdale.

But people who spoke to CBC believe he lived right across the street from George Wass.