Singer’s mom, brother slain

CHICAGO —  Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson considered her mother’s Chicago home a haven, a place where she could find respite from Hollywood.

That sanctuary was violently shattered Friday when her mother and brother were gunned down during a domestic dispute, law enforcement officials said. Police have named Hudson’s brother-in-law as a suspect, but he has not been charged.

William Balfour, who married Hudson’s sister Julia in 2006, was believed to have abducted his stepson, but when he was arrested Friday night the boy was not with him.

Julian King, 7, remained missing.

“I just can’t fathom something like this happening,” said Ethel Grisom, a family friend. “The entire family were just real friendly people who enjoyed being together. This is going to be devastating for them.”

About 3 p.m., a relative found Darnell Donerson, 57, fatally shot in her living room, law enforcement officials said. The relative notified authorities, who found Jason Hudson, 29, dead in a bedroom.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots about 9 a.m. There were no signs of forced entry.

Donerson had been shot in the head and Jason Hudson in the chest, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Balfour’s mother said that her son and Julia Hudson were separated and that Donerson had thrown him out of the family home last winter. Michele Balfour denied that her son had anything to do with the slayings.

“I didn’t raise no murderer,” she said. “He was not a child abductor. They have the wrong person.” She pleaded with Julian’s kidnapper to return him to his mother.

On Friday afternoon, scores of onlookers flocked to the street corner nearest the Hudsons’ South Side home, pressing against yellow police tape for a glimpse of the house. Evidence technicians and police officers came and went, and the house’s lights stayed on as the sky grew darker and rain squalls scattered the dwindling crowd.

Many neighbors’ thoughts turned to Jennifer Hudson, who returned home to visit her mother as often as twice a month. Hudson could walk through the neighborhood without anyone hassling her or following her with a camera.

“She never had no problems with fans stalking her,” neighbor Vanessa Stanton said. “The whole neighborhood block would look out for her.”

Hudson famously left her Burger King job to compete in the 2004 season of “American Idol.” She finished seventh and endured harsh words from judge Simon Cowell.

But her five-octave range helped win her the role of Effie White in the 2006 musical film “Dreamgirls.” Her on-screen rendition of “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” led to critical praise and an Oscar for best supporting actress.