Police Identify Russian Teenager As Killer Of Cosby’s Son, Find Gun

Police Thursday identified an 18-year-old Russian immigrant as the man who allegedly shot and killed Ennis Cosby during a bungled robbery attempt nearly two months ago.

Mikail “Michael” Markhasev was arrested two days ago on suspicion of murder. Police said the teenager, who emigrated to the United States eight years ago and lived in the San Fernando Valley northwest of downtown Los Angeles, has a criminal record.

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams said at a news conference that investigators last Friday found a knit cap and a handgun that have been linked to the case. He said tests determined the gun was used in the Jan. 16 slaying of Cosby, the 27-year-old son of entertainer Bill Cosby. A witness had described Cosby’s assailant as wearing a knit cap.

The young Cosby was trying to fix a flat tire on his Mercedes Benz convertible on a side road off a highway when he was attacked.

“It appears that robbery was the motive,” Williams said. “It was happenstance … It could have been a man, woman or child, black, white or gray. … There is no relation between suspect and Mr. Cosby. It could have been you or I.”

Williams said a man and a woman who were detained Wednesday for questioning in connection with the slaying were released from custody and are not considered suspects at this time. The investigation, however, is continuing, he said.

The chief said investigators believe Markhasev acted alone that night.

He said homicide investigators tracked down Markhasev with information provided by a tipster who initially called the National Enquirer in January seeking the tabloid’s $100,000 reward offer.

The paper passed the caller on to Los Angeles Police Department detectives who used the information to help them obtain at least three search warrants and conduct surveillance.

David Perel, executive editor of the National Enquirer, said the tipster claimed the murder was part of a botched robbery attempt by a man connected to a Russian car theft ring. Although Markhasev is of Russian heritage, Williams said there was no evidence to suggest he was part of any criminal organization. Williams said Markhasev has a criminal record, but he would not elaborate.

“This guy was a street thug,” according to one police source. “He had a pretty healthy record. We have a lot of repeat customers, and he’s definitely one of them.”

Police said the tip from the National Enquirer helped locate one of the most important pieces of evidence in the case: the murder weapon. Sources said a .38-caliber handgun was recovered in an open area a few miles from the crime scene during a search by investigators and police academy recruits. Monday the LAPD’s ballistics experts confirmed it was the gun used in the Cosby killing.

Prosecutors in the district attorney’s Major Crimes Division expect to file charges against Markhasev today, said spokeswoman Suzanne Childs.

Police declined to say whether the primary witness in the case had identified the suspect as the gunman. Investigators, however, have said the suspect matched the description she provided to police after the slaying.

According to police, the witness told authorities Cosby had called her on his cellular phone seeking assistance in fixing his flat tire. She said she drove out to the scene, and while there, was accosted by a man with a gun. The woman, a 47-year-old self-described screenwriter, told authorities she was frightened off and returned to find Cosby’s body lying next to his car.

Cosby, a graduate student from Columbia University who was spending a two-week vacation in Los Angeles at the time of the shooting, had made plans to meet with the woman the night he was killed.

News that the National Enquirer played a role in the apprehension of the suspected killer was a bittersweet revelation for the Cosby family. Shortly after the slaying, Bill Cosby challenged the tabloid to offer reward money instead of paying for interviews, which had the potential of tainting the credibility of possible witnesses.

The Cosby family, however, grew upset with the tabloids’ coverage and demanded they rescind the offers.