Gun Found Connected to Hudson Family Murders

Chicago Police announced on November 1 that the handgun they had found in a vacant lot just yards away from where the white Chevrolet SUV holding the slain body of Julian King was the gun used in commission of the violent deaths of the Hudson family on Chicago's South Side on October 24. Police are also studying other materials found at both sites.

Police hope the gun can be linked to William Balfour, the chief suspect in the case. Neighbors report seeing Balfour leaving the house with young Julian after shots were fired at the Hudson home. Balfour has not been charged with a crime.

William Balfour is being held by the Illinois Department of Corrections pending further investigation. Balfour was transferred to Corrections' custody when he refused to cooperate with the police while being questioned. He also refused to take a polygraph test.

The Cook Country Medical Examiner's office reported that Julian King, the 7-year-old nephew of Jennifer Hudson, had been killed by a gunshot wound to the head.

It has also been revealed that William Balfour's parole could have been revoked earlier this year when he was arrested for possession, which is a violation of his parole. A judge subsequently dismissed the case for absence of probable cause and Balfour's parole officer decided to let him remain free, even though the arrest itself, regardless of the judge's decision, was a violation of guidelines of parole.

William Balfour was married to Julia but, according to several family members and witnesses, the two were having difficulties. It is unknown if an altercation over Balfour's selling of a family vehicle without permission may have led to the triple murder.

The handgun, a .45-caliber SIG-Sauer P220 pistol, was found on October 26. It has been traced to a Michigan owner, who had reported the weapon stolen.

Despite her tragedy, Jennifer Hudson is currently experiencing great professional success as an actress and as a singer. She has a self-titled Billboard Top 10 album, a Top 30 hit single, "Spotlight," and a Top 10 grossing movie, "The Secret Life of Bees."

Hudson and her family are attempting to produce some good out of their devastating experience. The Oscar-winning actress, along with her sister, Julia, the mother of victim 7-year-old Julian King, Jennifer announced Thursday, October 30, that the Hudson family was establishing the Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims in honor of Darnell Donerson (Julia and Jennifer's mother), Jason Hudson (brother), and Julian King (Julia's son, Jennifer's nephew).

A prepared statement explained: "The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime. This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling."

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Donations to the Hudson-King Foundation can be forwarded to:

c/o Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP

Attn: William L. Abrams, Esq.

237 West 35th Street, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10001

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Sources:

Hotfeeder.com

SunTimes.com