Idol star's nephew 'died of gunshots'

Reuters

TRIPLE FATALITY: A mourner places a teddy bear at a memorial outside the home of Jennifer Hudson following news that the body of her seven-year-old nephew had been found.

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The seven-year-old nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson died of gunshot wounds, officials said, ruling his death a homicide like those of Hudson's mother and brother.

Julian King died of "multiple gunshot wounds," the office of Cook County Medical Examiner Dr Nancy Jones announced.

The boy's body was found on Monday in a stolen car abandoned on a Chicago street, four days after the two other members of the entertainer's family were shot dead in their Chicago home.

The likely time of death was not announced, so it remained unknown whether the boy was killed at the same time as his grandmother and uncle were, or was slain after being abducted.

Police have said they believe the slayings were the result of a domestic dispute, and have named as a "person of interest" a man with whom Jennifer Hudson's sister - the mother of the dead boy - once had a relationship.

William Balfour, 27, was arrested and is being held for a parole violation.

Hudson returned to Chicago during the weekend after the deaths of her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother, Jason Hudson, 29.

She has been in seclusion since then but went to the morgue on Monday to make the identification of her nephew's body.

Hudson got her start in 2005 competing on the top-rated US television show American Idol. She placed seventh in the show's third season.

But her voice and popularity kept her touring in live shows and she won the role of Effie White in the 2006 film version of the stage musical Dreamgirls.

The role of soulful singer White, who is kicked out of an all-girl 1960s singing group, earned Hudson the Oscar for best supporting actress and made her a sought-after Hollywood star.

Hudson has since appeared in the movie version of Sex and the City and is currently in The Secret Life of Bees.

- Reuters