Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother shot dead

Chicago: The mother and brother of US actress Jennifer Hudson were found shot to death in the mother's Chicago home on Friday, according to media reports.

The Tribune said the Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified the victims as Hudson's mother, Darnell Donnerson, 57, and her brother Jason Hudson, 29.

The Chicago Police Department said neighbours reported hearing shots in the area during the morning, but the bodies were not found until midafternoon.

Other media reports said a 7-year-old boy, possibly Hudson's nephew, was still missing from the house where the victims were found.

"A missing child was possibly abducted from the scene...and may be in the company of William Balfour, a suspect in the double homicide investigation," police said in a statement, adding that the man was "considered armed and dangerous."

It did not say who Balfour was or whether he was related to the family.