Jennifer Hudson
One of two gunshot victims found in a Chicago home Friday is believed to be a relative of Jennifer Hudson, and police are searching for a 7-year-old boy and a man.
"We are handling a double-homicide," says Chicago police spokesman Officer John Mirabelli. "Those [two] victims sustained fatal gunshot wounds."
He declined to comment on several media reports that one of the victims was Hudson's mother.
The victims – a man and a woman – were found by officers in a South Side home listed in the name of Hudson's mother. Police say the two deceased people appeared to have been involved in a shooting related to a domestic disturbance.
"We are searching for a young boy from that address who is missing," says Mirabelli. "We are seeking to interview the adult male."
The boy was identifed as Julian King, who is believed to be the grandson of the female shooting victim. An Amber Alert has been issued for him.
The man, identified as William Balfour, 27, may be driving either a white Chevrolet Suburban (Illinois X584859) or a teal Chrysler Concorde four-door with the left front headlight hanging down (Illinois 332K823).
A rep for the American Idol alum/actress did not immediately comment.
Hudson, 27, recently got engaged to boyfriend David Otunga. The actress stars in the current film, The Secret Life of Bees.
Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were the two victims of a fatal shooting in Chicago, the actress's publicist says.
"We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson," rep Lisa Kasteler tells PEOPLE. "No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."
The victims' bodies were found by officers Friday in a South Side home listed in the name of Hudson's mother, and police say the shooting appeared to be related to a domestic disturbance.
Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, is missing. An Amber Alert has been issued for him.
"We are searching for a young boy from that address who is missing," says Chicago police spokesman Officer John Mirabelli.
A man authorities were searching for in connection with the shootings, identified as William Balfour, 27, has been taken into custody and is being questioned by authorities, the Associated Press reports. No charges have been filed.
According to the AP, police spokeswoman Monique Bond says police are talking to "a number of people in custody" but she declined to further elaborate.
Hudson, 27, the Oscar-winning actress from Dreamgirls and an American Idol alum, recently got engaged to boyfriend David Otunga. She stars in the current film The Secret Life of Bees.
In front of the white two-story home barred with yellow police line tape, where Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were fatally shot Friday, neighbors and fans stood in shock. Amidst the downpour and lightning on Chicago's south side, bystanders continued to stare and watch police and forensic service officials work to find more information relating to the deaths of mother Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson.
As neighborhood residents stood in the rain on the dimly lit street among boarded up buildings, everyone was quiet – staring in the direction of Hudson's childhood home later that evening. The police tape kept bystanders away from the house, forcing people to gather at the end of the street in front of Hudson's high school Yale, just a half block from the house.
"Jennifer always used to beg her mom to get out of that neighborhood, but she owned that house and she would never leave," said a neighbor.
One bystander stood with her hood over her head, praying and making the sign of the cross as she witnessed the scene of the murders.
Another bystander was in shock. "It was such a nice family," she said. "I was shocked that somebody could ever do something like that to such a sweet lady. [Donerson] was quiet, but very nice," she said. "She kept to herself and stayed in her house a lot."
But the neighbor did say that she was friendly with everyone in the neighborhood. "She hosted a block party for our whole neighborhood a few months back," the neighbor said. "She provided food and she planned the whole event, she was so nice. She would do anything for anyone."
Although reports claim that the gunshots were fired early in the morning, around 8 a.m., neighbors say no one knew anything was going on until about 2:45 p.m., when police were called to the scene.
As for missing 7-year-old Julian King, the son of Hudson's sister Julia, neighbors say he is a happy, bubbly child. "Julian is a sweet boy and is always laughing," said a source. "He's a very generous child."
An Amber Alert has been issued for King, who police said might have been in the company of William Balfour, Julia's estranged husband, when he reportedly fled in either a Chevy Suburban or a Chrysler Concord, CBS News reports. The four-door teal green Chrysler was found overnight.
Balfour, 27, was arrested and put into custody on Friday but has not been charged in the deaths.
According to reports, Jennifer Hudson returned to Chicago on Friday night after learning the news of her mother and brother's deaths.
"We are handling a double-homicide," says Chicago police spokesman Officer John Mirabelli. "Those [two] victims sustained fatal gunshot wounds."
He declined to comment on several media reports that one of the victims was Hudson's mother.
The victims – a man and a woman – were found by officers in a South Side home listed in the name of Hudson's mother. Police say the two deceased people appeared to have been involved in a shooting related to a domestic disturbance.
"We are searching for a young boy from that address who is missing," says Mirabelli. "We are seeking to interview the adult male."
The boy was identifed as Julian King, who is believed to be the grandson of the female shooting victim. An Amber Alert has been issued for him.
The man, identified as William Balfour, 27, may be driving either a white Chevrolet Suburban (Illinois X584859) or a teal Chrysler Concorde four-door with the left front headlight hanging down (Illinois 332K823).
A rep for the American Idol alum/actress did not immediately comment.
Hudson, 27, recently got engaged to boyfriend David Otunga. The actress stars in the current film, The Secret Life of Bees.
Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were the two victims of a fatal shooting in Chicago, the actress's publicist says.
"We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson," rep Lisa Kasteler tells PEOPLE. "No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."
The victims' bodies were found by officers Friday in a South Side home listed in the name of Hudson's mother, and police say the shooting appeared to be related to a domestic disturbance.
Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, is missing. An Amber Alert has been issued for him.
"We are searching for a young boy from that address who is missing," says Chicago police spokesman Officer John Mirabelli.
A man authorities were searching for in connection with the shootings, identified as William Balfour, 27, has been taken into custody and is being questioned by authorities, the Associated Press reports. No charges have been filed.
According to the AP, police spokeswoman Monique Bond says police are talking to "a number of people in custody" but she declined to further elaborate.
Hudson, 27, the Oscar-winning actress from Dreamgirls and an American Idol alum, recently got engaged to boyfriend David Otunga. She stars in the current film The Secret Life of Bees.
In front of the white two-story home barred with yellow police line tape, where Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were fatally shot Friday, neighbors and fans stood in shock. Amidst the downpour and lightning on Chicago's south side, bystanders continued to stare and watch police and forensic service officials work to find more information relating to the deaths of mother Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson.
As neighborhood residents stood in the rain on the dimly lit street among boarded up buildings, everyone was quiet – staring in the direction of Hudson's childhood home later that evening. The police tape kept bystanders away from the house, forcing people to gather at the end of the street in front of Hudson's high school Yale, just a half block from the house.
"Jennifer always used to beg her mom to get out of that neighborhood, but she owned that house and she would never leave," said a neighbor.
One bystander stood with her hood over her head, praying and making the sign of the cross as she witnessed the scene of the murders.
Another bystander was in shock. "It was such a nice family," she said. "I was shocked that somebody could ever do something like that to such a sweet lady. [Donerson] was quiet, but very nice," she said. "She kept to herself and stayed in her house a lot."
But the neighbor did say that she was friendly with everyone in the neighborhood. "She hosted a block party for our whole neighborhood a few months back," the neighbor said. "She provided food and she planned the whole event, she was so nice. She would do anything for anyone."
Although reports claim that the gunshots were fired early in the morning, around 8 a.m., neighbors say no one knew anything was going on until about 2:45 p.m., when police were called to the scene.
As for missing 7-year-old Julian King, the son of Hudson's sister Julia, neighbors say he is a happy, bubbly child. "Julian is a sweet boy and is always laughing," said a source. "He's a very generous child."
An Amber Alert has been issued for King, who police said might have been in the company of William Balfour, Julia's estranged husband, when he reportedly fled in either a Chevy Suburban or a Chrysler Concord, CBS News reports. The four-door teal green Chrysler was found overnight.
Balfour, 27, was arrested and put into custody on Friday but has not been charged in the deaths.
According to reports, Jennifer Hudson returned to Chicago on Friday night after learning the news of her mother and brother's deaths.