Arrest brings sigh of relief on Granby

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk's Granby Street was like a second home for police officer Victor Decker and an arrest in his slaying had many neighbors feeling a sense of relief.

Officer Decker's body was found in October 2010 next to his truck on Oceana Boulevard in Virginia Beach. Detectives said that since then, they have interviewed more than 200 people before finally arrested 20-year-old Raymond Perry.

"I thought after a few months with no new leads we probably would never hear anything," Owner of Baxter's Sports Lounge Baxter Simmons said. "Nobody's forgotten about him and I think it will help kind of put the pieces of the puzzle to what happen."

Friends said Officer Decker made it his mission to keep everyone safe and his murder left a void in downtown Norfolk.

"He was always very concerned with everybody's well being," General Manager of Scotty Quixx Vanessa Oates said. "Nothing was too much for him. It just shakes a community to think that something so horrific could happen to such a good person," Oates said.

"It brings closure," Norfolk Police Officer Chris Amos said. "This has been 18 months or so in the works. We knew Victor was killed, but that's all we knew," Amos said. "We didn't have any answers. We didn't have the circumstances and now hopefully with the arrest some of those answers will come to light."

Fellow officers in Norfolk said they always hoped this day would come. Everyone agrees Decker was special.

"He's very missed," Oates said.