Oct 28, 2008 10:43 pm US/Central
Gunshot Wounds Killed Hudson's Nephew
Julian King's Body Was Found Monday In Abandoned SUV
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Julian King was reported missing after his uncle, Jason Hudson, and grandmother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, were found dead in a South Side home. Julian's body was found on Monday.
Hudson Family
The Hudson family's home neighborhood of Englewood is in mourning, and an autopsy has found that multiple gunshot wounds killed Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, Julian King.
As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, an autopsy conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office determined that the cause of Julian's death was multiple gunshots and the manner of death was a homicide. A source tells CBS 2 News that the boy was shot twice in the temple at point blank range.
Further details about his death were not immediately learned, although an earlier preliminary report indicated that Julian was shot in the face, possibly inside the abandoned sport-utility vehicle where his body was found on the city's West Side Monday. But it has not been learned when Julian died.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports that on Monday night, under heavy police guard, Hudson family relatives made a brief, nighttime visit to the Hudson home removing personal belongings while onlookers, adults and children, some from outside the Englewood neighborhood, remembered the slain family members in song.
"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine," the mourners sang.
Meanwhile, Julian's stepfather, William Balfour, has been identified as a "person of interest" by police Supt. Jody Weis, and he is being held at a state correctional center for violating his parole in an unrelated case.
Documents show that Balfour was arrested for drug possession in June, but state officials didn't revoke his parole. Parole records obtained by The Associated Press also indicate that Balfour missed a meeting with his parole agent on Friday, the same day Julian disappeared and his grandmother and uncle were found shot dead.
Police say Julian's mother, Julia Hudson, had an argument with Balfour the morning before the killings.
Balfour was picked up at a girlfriend's house on Friday. The Chicago Tribune reports the girlfriend told police Balfour was involved in the shooting, and that more than one person may be involved. No one has been charged.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports that as police continue to investigate the murders, sources say detectives are looking at a couple of motives. They all involve Balfour as the suspected killer.
One possible motive detectives are considering is that Balfour was upset with Hudson's sister Julia, his estranged wife, because she received flowers and candy from another man for Sweetest Day. Another motive is that Balfour had a dispute with Hudson's brother Jason and another man over money.
CBS Crime Analyst Linda Bloom indicates that a motive involving money is more likely.
"Ordinarily we'd see husbands killing wives and wives killing husbands," Bloom said. "He didn't kill his estranged wife. He killed, if he did it, the mother, the brother and the son. That's a very unusual fact pattern for domestic violence."
Julian had been missing since Friday afternoon, when his mother and Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson, found the bodies of her mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother Jason Hudson inside the family home in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue.
An Amber Alert was issued for Julian following his disappearance, and a bulletin was issued for a white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban sport-utility vehicle that had been registered to Jason Hudson. The sport-utility vehicle was found abandoned at 1313 S. Kolin Ave. in the West Side's Lawndale neighborhood.
A boy's body was found inside the vehicle. Jennifer Hudson and several relatives identified the body Monday afternoon, ending any hopes he would be found alive.
The people of the Englewood are devastated, and they say they want the Hudson family to know that good people with compassionate hearts live nearby.
"It's mostly that little boy, because I have a grandson. He's 10," said Evelyn Cleggette.
"They did not deserve this. It's crazy," said Koaltandra Johnson. "You just need to stop the violence and increase the peace in our neighborhood."
"She came from the neighborhood, and she worked really hard to get to where she's at now," said Steve Dorsey. "I hope it's not jealousy, or envy, or anything that may have turned to this, but she's holding up really well, from what I hear."
Throughout the day, area residents stopped by the Hudson home in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue, saying a prayer or leaving a condolence note at the makeshift memorial of teddy bears and Mylar balloons.
Fans of Jennifer Hudson have gathered to pay tribute to the actress' mother, nephew and brother. Cynthia Washington traveled from around the city to be here.
"I just wanted to come by and bring something to give my condolences, to let Jennifer know that we, as Chicagoans, love her," Washington said.
Hudson appreciates the support, according to those who have talked to her. Sean Howard, a spokesperson for the Medical Examiner's office helped Hudson through the painful process of identifying her murdered relatives.
"She indicated to me that 'I want to maintain my privacy in my family during this grieving time and tell my fans that I love them, and their prayers are what's getting me through the process,'" Howard said.
In comments before an unrelated appearance at an address to the City Club of Chicago at Maggiano's restaurant in River North, police Supt. Jody Weis said there is a large amount of evidence to sort out in the case because it has two crime scenes -- the house where the adults were killed and the SUV where Julian's body was found.
Weis refused to talk about the specifics of the investigation, but he said he remains confident detectives will solve the case.
Regardless of motive, the devastating result moves scores of visitors to visit the Hudson home every day.
"Everyone out here got family and they can just imagine how they feel," said mourner Jan Hyde.
On her MySpace page, Julia Hudson shared her grief and implied her estranged husband Balfour may be to blame.
She wrote: "Because I chose to do what is natural to me and love someone, it cost me my beautiful family. My mother, Darnell...my baby brother Jason, and my only son Julian."
CBS 2 News has learned that the funerals for the family members who were killed will be held at the Hudson Funeral Home on the city's South Side, which is owned by Jennifer Hudson's aunt and uncle. Arrangements are still pending.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley, Dorothy Tucker, Joanie Lum and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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