Police say they have finally cracked the case of the balaclava-clad serial attacker who has terrorized the Parkdale community since January.

Ricardo Morrison, 31, was formally charged on Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of George Wass, 62, a resident of the area who had mental health issues.

Morrison, who was already in custody facing two other assault charges stemming from attacks in the neighbourhood, now also faces a further five assault charges in relation to the string of attacks that targeted vulnerable people.

Morrison, who lived in a rooming house in the area where the attacks occurred, has a court appearance July 6 to answer to the total of seven assault charges and one murder charge.

Staff Inspector Mark Saunders, the head of the Toronto Police homicide squad, called the charges “a great conclusion” to the investigation.

Police credited forensic science, but mostly the “silent voices” in the community who rose up in collective spirit to help the police put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Wass was attacked March 18 and taken to hospital, then released. Three days later, he collapsed at the boarding house. He was taken to St. Joseph’s hospital, where he was pronounced dead.