South Bend family remembers Liberty Street homicide victim

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Family, friends and investigators are searching for answers after 28-year-old Huey Hudson Junior was found murdered on south liberty street.

Police also found more than 300 marijuana plants growing inside the home--but they don't believe the shooting is connected to the drugs.

The Hudson family is devastated by the loss.

Sunday morning they lost a caring brother, man who was engaged to his childhood sweetheart, and still had so much more life to live.

Tonight the family all gathered together from all over Indiana to remember his life and to try and make sense of this tragedy.

If pictures are worth a thousand words, these pictures are now worth a million to this broken hearted family.

Huey Hudson Sr. says all he can do is, “look at pictures, think, sleep, think.”

Younger sister, Ariel Hudson says, “right now it just doesn’t seem like it happened.”

The Hudson family has put life on pause and turned to God as they try to come to terms with the loss of their son.

Just after midnight Sunday morning police and the Saint Joseph County Homicide Unit were called to South Liberty Street where they found 28-year-old, Huey Hudson Jr. who died from a gunshot wound— leaving 3 siblings, parents, and a community behind.

Hudson Sr. is still in disbelief, “I never thought that would happen.”

Ariel Hudson says, “It just doesn’t seem like it really happened”

And Hudson Jr.’s other younger sister, Asia, says, “To me he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Monday night, almost 48 hours later, family gathered to pray and remember the man Huey was to them.

Ariel remembers,”We called him baby Huey.”

Hudson Sr. recalls how his son went down to state and was all conference for 3 or 4 years while in high school.

Aside from wrestling at Riley High School, going to Harper College, and working in construction with his father—Huey Jr. loved to adventure.

Huey would ride dirt bikes and travel with his friends and fiancé Arrica of over 10 years.

But he still dreamed of more.

Olivia Hudson, Huey Jr.’s mother says, “Once he got his little traveling and having his fun then he wanted to settle down and have his kids and just be there for them.”

But while the investigation is still going, the Hudson family is lost saying it feels like a nightmare or a terrible dream.

All the family has left of their son are pictures.

Memories—his sister Ariel says, “He had that charisma about him. Everybody wanted to be around him, everybody knew him.”

Asia smiles and says, “We even had our own handshake that he taught me.”

--And each other.

Hudson Sr. says, “I don’t think I’ll get over it, thinking about it all the time.”

Olivia Hudson was teary eyed and says, “The child is not supposed to die before the parent.”

And Ariel looked off in disbelief and says, “Like I know it happened... But it hasn’t set in... And that’s what I’m afraid of... when it actually sets in.”

Homicide detectives have not released any possible suspects-- and again--they don't believe the marijuana plants in the home are connected to this crime.

If you have any information that could help to bring this family answers, you are urged to call Crime Stoppers.