After a nearly two-month search, Tampa police arrested and charged a 24-year-old man with four counts of murder in connection to a series of fatal shootings that terrified residents in the city's Seminole Heights neighborhood.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told reporters late Tuesday that police had arrested Howell Emanuel Donaldson III and were putting together the charges overnight. But, he said, they wanted to get out the news of the arrest to assure the Seminole Heights community.

The shootings started in Seminole Heights in early October and targeted citizens doing ordinary tasks like waiting at a bus stop or crossing the street. The four seemingly unconnected victims in Seminole Heights were each killed -- but not robbed -- while walking alone at night within a half-mile area, police said.

In the past month, officers swarmed the tree-lined neighborhood, advising residents not to go outside alone, to be alert and keep their porch lights on. Some residents stopped walking their dogs, running outside, going for walks or waiting for the bus alone, saying they no longer felt safe.

Dugan said Howell Donaldson III, the suspect charged with killing four people in the city's Seminole Heights neighborhood, seemed 'fine' and knew where he was and what was going on during his interview with police.

'He was friendly and nice to the cops, but he didn't give us anything, tell us why he was doing it or anything like that,' Dugan said.

Dugan said that police recovered a hoodie and a jacket from Donaldson that might be the same ones worn by the suspect in surveillance video released last month. More lab work is needed on that, but 'it's encouraging,' Dugan said.

Tampa Police Chief added that

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who had visited Seminole Heights last week, said he had seen 'firsthand the pain that these crimes have caused across the community.'

'In Florida, we have absolutely zero tolerance for this type of evil behavior and anyone responsible will be held to the fullest extent of the law,' he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Scott thanked Tampa police and other law enforcement agencies for working around the clock to solve the confounding case.

'Why somebody would have it in their mind to go take four individuals' lives, I just don't get it,' Scott said. 'And I don't know that we'll ever understand.'

Mayor Bob Buckhorn praised the 'tired' law enforcement authorities who had worked 24 hours a day to solve this case.

'Today, was a good day. Today, the good guys won. Today, Seminole Heights can sleep,' he said.

'Today we begin the healing process. And today, the judicial process starts. And it will end. And I can promise you that when it does end, that this community will be a better place. Because I know where this guy is gonna spend his eternity.'

On Tuesday, police said they received a tip from a McDonald's employee around 2:40 p.m. about a man who had a gun in a bag at the fast food restaurant. The McDonalds is about two to three miles from where the killings took place.

Donaldson attended St. John's University in New York beginning in fall 2011 and graduated in January 2017, according to Brian Browne, executive director of University Relations.

He was a walk-on for the men's basketball team during the 2011-2012 season but never played in a game, Browne said.

Dugan said Tuesday he wasn't sure whether Donaldson worked at the McDonald's. He also said he couldn't answer many questions, because the investigation is ongoing.

'We're still trying to figure out this person's ties to the neighborhood,' Dugan said. 'We're not sure why he was in this neighborhood or what his motive is. There's still a lot more to go in this investigation.'

The victims seem to have been selected at random, leaving the community on edge as the number of unsolved shootings mounted.

Benjamin Mitchell, 22, a full-time student at Hillsborough Community College, was shot and killed at a bus stop in the Seminole Heights neighborhood October 9.

Monica Hoffa, 32, a waitress, was shot and killed October 11. Her body was found two days later in a vacant parking lot.

Anthony Naiboa, 20, who had autism and had just started a temporary job packing relief supplies for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, was shot October 19 when he accidentally got on the wrong bus and ended up in Seminole Heights.

Ronald Felton, 60, who worked in construction and had three grown children, was shot in the back on November 14.