Hudson homicides puts spotlight on crime in Englewood

The high-profile triple homicide of singer/actress Jennifer Hudson’s family members in Englewood shines the spotlight on the violence that grips a city that leads the nation in murders this year, and on a South Side community that is one of the city

The high-profile triple homicide of singer/actress Jennifer Hudson’s family members in Englewood shines the spotlight on the violence that grips a city that leads the nation in murders this year and on a South Side community that is one of the city’s deadliest.

By October 21, the city had surpassed New York and Los Angeles in the number of murders committed. As of that date, Chicago had 426 slayings, compared to 417 for New York and 302 for Los Angeles. Last year, from January 1 to October 31, there were 380 homicides in Chicago. Further, the murder count in the Englewood community continues to be one of the city’s highest. The Defender reported in August that from January to July 2007, Englewood had 25 murders compared to 26 for the same period this year.

And since that report this summer, at least a handful more have occurred there, including the slayings of Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, of the Hudson family. A third Hudson family member, Julian King, 7, was found shot to death on the West Side after being taken from the Hudson’s home.

Two days after Donerson’s and Jason Hudson’s bodies were found, 18 year-old Ladevonne Thomas was found shot to death in the street in the 5700 block of South Bishop Avenue, according to Chicago police.

Several aldermen, whose wards run through Englewood, weighed in on the bloody weekend and what it now means for the community.

Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd) said the murders are a tragedy and will undoubtedly make it more difficult to attract private investors to the area.

“Violence like this underscores the value of the community,” she said.

Alderwoman Latasha Thomas (17th) said too much bad press about the negative things that occur in Englewood only makes revitalizing the community that much harder.

“I am not saying the media should not cover crime in Englewood, but don’t wait until something bad happens before you start to report it,” Thomas told the Defender.

In August, the Defender reported that, cross the board, homicides in the city continued on a slight incline each month.

As of September 30, Chicago police logged 392 slayings, 50 more than the same period last year, according to police statistics.

Englewood had been consistent with its homicide numbers.

From January to September 2007, Englewood had 29 murders, compared to 32 for the same period this year.

Still, aldermen point out that the killings are a citywide issue and not merely a blight for Englewood.

“No community is immune from violence so the focus should not be on Englewood solely,” Dowell told the Defender.

Chicago police spokesperson Monique Bond told the Defender in August that the department’s dismantling of gang hierarchy contributed to the warfare.

At the city council’s budget committee hearing October 24, police Superintendent Jody Weis told aldermen that he was setting up what he called the Mobile Strike Force to attack gangs all over the city.

The unit, which will be comprised of roughly 150 veteran officers and divided into about a dozen teams, will “disrupt gang crimes through physical arrests, search warrants and gun seizures,” Weis said. He told aldermen that there were 75 identified gangs operating in the city and 75,000 gang members.

“The gang culture continues to be the driving force behind the vast majority of violence with more than half the murders committed by gangs,” Weis said.

Additionally, he proposed a police beat realignment in the department’s effort to get a grip on the carnage.

Dowell favors the adjustment. “I support a beat realignment,” she said. “A realignment would deploy more officers to areas most in need because some communities need more help than others dealing with violence.”

Neighbors in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue, where the Hudson family lived, said they heard gunshots at about 8 a.m. on October 24 but thought nothing of it.

About seven hours later, Julia Hudson came home to find her mother and brother fatally shot.

“We’re so used to hearing gunshots around here. When we heard the shots, we didn’t think nothing of it because we’re so used to gunshots around here,” said Roderick Shaw, an Englewood resident.

Chicago police suspect the Hudson crime was a domestic dispute and have named Julia Hudson’s estranged husband, William Balfour, as a person of interest.

Balfour has not been charged and is in the custody of the Ill. Dept. of Corrections on a parole violation. He served nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.

Economic development and opportunities have been indicated as redress for high-crime, high-joblessness communities’ woes across the city, including in Englewood.

“Englewood needs more grocery stores, schools and housing. And incidents like (the Hudson murders) make it hard to convince potential families and businesses that this is a good place to live and do business,” Thomas said. “There are a lot of good things that take place in Englewood but rarely do I see those things covered by the media.”

“I admit it looks bad, and these murders do not help us at all,” said Alderwoman Freddrenna Lyle, whose 6th Ward includes parts of Englewood. “But Engelwood is like any other community. It has its problems, but in time things will get better.”

Defender staff writer Wendell Hutson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.