The City of New Orleans settled a suit earlier this month to pay $1.5 million to the children of Kim Groves. A City police officer notoriously ordered the murder of the mother of three 24 years ago. 

Groves, who was 32 at the time, was murdered by a hit man after she filed a police brutality complaint against former New Orleans officer Len Davis in 1994. According to The Advocate, Groves filed the complaint after she witnessed Davis beat and pistol whip a young man. Davis, who was nicknamed "Desire terrorist," was already under the FBI's radar for running a drug racket. 

Davis caught wind of Groves' complaint and then conspired with triggerman Paul "Cool" Hardy to kill her. Hardy shot and killed Groves steps from her home in October 1994. Groves' family first filed a lawsuit against the City in 1995, a year after her death, NOLA.com reported. Davis was convicted of two federal civil rights charges and sentenced to death in 1996. According to The Advocate, Davis is on federal death row in Indiana. Hardy was originally sentenced to death but that sentence was overturned in 2011 when he was then sentenced to life in prison. 

New Orleans City Attorney Rebecca Dietz said in a written statement that the settlement is part of the City's efforts to bring "healing." 

"Under Mayor Landrieu's leadership, the City has prioritized resolving legacy police misconduct lawsuits in order to take responsibility, begin healing and bring closure to the victims and their loved ones," Dietz said according to NOLA.com.

One of Groves' children, Corey Groves, told the court that life has not been easy since their mother's murder, The Advocate reported. 

"Since 1994, myself and also my sisters have had children of our own and supporting our growing families hasn't been an easy task, mainly without the guidance of the people who showed us what family is all about, but also financial hardship has (hurt) all three of us terribly," he said.

Kim GrovesNew Orleans Police DepartmentNew-Orleans