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Today in History: Enis Cosby Shot to Death 15 Years Ago by North Hollywood Teen

The son of famous comedian Bill Cosby was killed in a botched robbery attempt.

 

Fifteen years ago today, Enis Cosbsy, the son of famous comedian Bill Cosby, was shot to death on Skirball Center Drive in Los Angeles as he was attempting to change a flat tire on his car.

Cosby's killer was Mikhail Markhasev, an 18-year-old Ukranian-born immigrant who lived and worked in North Hollywood.

The killing shocked the country and made international headlines due to Bill Cosby being one of America's most beloved entertainers. Enis was said to have been the inspiration for the character of Theo Cosby on The Cosby Show, one of the most popular television shows of all time. Enis was also a frequent subject in many of Bill Cosby's famous stand-up routines.

A March 15, 1997 story in the New York Times revealed many details about Markhasev, who was described as a quiet loner who had frequent brushes with the law and was "a kid really hard beyond his years," according to one police investigator. 

Markhasev worked at Mainly Seconds Pottery and Plants on Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood (now Valley Village).

The store's owner, Jim Herzoff, remembered Markhasev as ''someone who was really nice to customers, spoke good English, always on time to work -- and that's about all there is to say.''

Mainly Seconds closed last year after 36 years in business. Click here to read an interview with Herzoff on one of his final days in business.

In 2001, Markhasev admitted killing Cosby in a letter to California Deputy Attorney General Kyle Brodie, where he also dropped all requests for an appeal, according to ABC News

 

Other "Today in History" stories:

Today in History: D-Day

Today in History: 'Jaws' and Universal Changed Hollywood Forever

Today in History: 'Lawnchair' Larry Took Flight; Amelia Earhart Disappeared

Today in History: Oliver Hardy Died in North Hollywood

Today in History: Lankershim Elementary Crossing Guard Killed by Car

Today in History: Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated in Los Angeles 43 Years Ago

Today in History: North Hollywood Police Officer James C. Beyea Gunned Down

Today in History: LAPD North Hollywood Detective Gunned Down in Cold Blood

Today in History: Lawrence Welk's 'Champagne Lady' Suffered Night of Terror

Today in History: 'Bionic Woman' Lindsay Wagner Helped Rescue Suicide Jumper From Hotel Roof

The Night an Extortion Plot Ended With Johnny Carson Delivering $250,000 to a North Hollywood Parking Lot

Katherine Tomlinson

7:22 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I remember this crime so well because I remember seeing the killer a couple of times when I went in to buy plants.

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