Jennifer Hudson's Mother, Brother Murdered

Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother died of fatal gunshot wounds Friday (October 24), police have confirmed to MTV News.

A Chicago police representative said the singer’s mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and older brother, Jason, were killed. Donerson was 57 years old; Jason was 29.

Officers received a call shortly before 3 p.m. Friday, the representative said, and upon arriving at the residence, 7019 South Yale Avenue, found the two victims. The incident has been declared a double homicide; police emphasized that this may be a domestic situation.

Julian King, Hudson’s young nephew, who had been living at the residence, has been reported missing. Chicago police confirmed to MTV News that the child may be in the company of identified suspect William Balfour, an African-American male in his late 20s, who is considered armed and dangerous. Balfour is out on parole from the Illinois River Correctional Center on attempted murder, carjacking and stolen-property charges, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. He was sentenced to serve seven years in 1999. He’s 5-foot-5 and weighs 147 pounds.

A Corrections rep said that Balfour was paroled in 2006; he was set to be discharged from that parole in May 2009.

According to the Amber Alert issued for King, he is wearing a brown, striped polo shirt and khaki pants. He is 4 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.

Balfour had been living at the residence, according to public records, and may have had a romantic relationship with Hudson’s sister Julia, as vehicles are co-registered to both of them. Police said Balfour is believed to be driving either a white Chevrolet Suburban, 1994 model, with the license plate X584859, or a green Chrysler Concord, with the license plate 332K823.

According to public records, the home is owned by Hudson’s mother, but both Jennifer and Jason have been listed as residents for the second apartment. A neighbor, Vanessa Stanton, told ABC News, “Jason was a good person. His mom was too.”

Chicago Police Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson told reporters at the scene in a press conference that neighbors reported hearing shots between 8 and 9 a.m. Friday morning. Patterson said a family member called police upon finding the body of Hudson’s mother on the living-room floor, and when authorities arrived, they found the body of Hudson’s brother in a bedroom. There were no signs of forced entry, and police are unsure if anything is missing from the house.

“We have some promising leads right now,” Patterson said, “but it’s very preliminary.”

The Tribune reported that Hudson is not injured, according to her bodyguard. ABC News reported that Hudson was traveling to Chicago from Tampa, Florida.

Source: MTV