UPDATE: Jennifer Hudson's family tragedy

Julian King, the 7-year-old nephew of actress-singer Jennifer Hudson, died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death has been ruled a homicide

A police source said the motive in the killings of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew could be related to ongoing disputes between the suspect and his estranged wife, Julia Hudson, and her family. One of those disputes was over unpaid car payments, sources said.

William Balfour, 27, remains the focus of the triple-homicide investigation. Hudson's mother and brother had thrown him out of their Englewood house in the past, sources said. Julia Hudson also told police that Balfour had threatened the family.

A source said Balfour told Julia Hudson he would kill her if he found out she had a boyfriend, despite the fact that he had other girlfriends.

Officers questioned Balfour on Friday night, but he stopped talking when police suggested he take a polygraph. Balfour has not been charged in the slayings.




Police have not ruled out the possibility that more than one person was involved.

"It wasn't a case of a stranger-type homicide," Weis said Monday.

Police believe that Balfour went to the Hudson family home Friday and shot through the front door, striking Hudson's brother, Jason. Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, came into the living room, screaming, and Balfour shot her as well, sources said.


The sources also said Balfour's girlfriend contradicted his alibi and told police that he was involved in the slayings.

In one dispute, sources said, Julia Hudson arrived Friday morning at Sunrise Bus Co. on payday and discovered her wages had been garnished because of unpaid car payments. Sources said Balfour had taken her car months earlier but promised to make the payments on the vehicle. After seeing her pay stub, Julia Hudson called Balfour to complain about the unpaid bills, sources said.