Cops Find Possible Hudson Murder Weapon

Gun discovered in junk-strewn lot not far from where the body of nephew Julian King was found Monday

A piece of Jennifer Hudson's tragic puzzle may be in place.

Chicago police have recovered a gun that they believe was the one used in the shooting deaths of the Oscar winner's mother, brother and nephew.

Darnell Donerson, 57, Jason Hudson, 29, and Julian King, 7, are believed to have been killed with a .45-caliber weapon. Technicians from the Illinois State Police crime lab will test the gun they found today against shell casings recovered at the crime scenes.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the gun and other as-yet-undisclosed evidence was discovered by a police recruit, who was conducting a routine search in connection with the investigation, at 1:30 p.m. in an empty trash-strewn lot on 14th Street between Kildare and Kolin Avenues on the city's West Side.

Julian's body was found Monday morning in an abandoned SUV parked on the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue, barely a block away.

Police have arrested William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister (and Julian's mom) Julia, and he is currently being held on a parole violation. No charges have been filed, but he has been designated a "person of interest" in the case.

Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, funeral arrangements for the victims are still in flux.

A rep for Chicago's Hudson Funeral Home, which is owned by Jennifer's aunt, tells E! News that, despite any reports to the contrary, no arrangements for funerals, memorials or any other type of gathering have been made yet. An announcement will be made when things are finalized.

—Additional reporting by Ashley Fultz

(Originally published Oct. 29, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. PT)