July 1, 2009

JACKSON, S.C.---One bank robbery suspect has been shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire with a Jackson police officer. The Aiken County coroner's office identifies him as 30-year-old Jelani Edwards of Aiken. He was pronounced dead at the scene around 1:00 p.m. SLED and the Aiken County Coroner's office will be investigating his death.

Jackson Police Chief Dennis Rushton tells News 12, Officer Andrew Keller was within 1/4 of a mile of the First Citizens Bank at 401 Atomic Road when he got a call about the bank robbery, around 12:19pm. He went to the bank and spotted a Burgundy Dodge Intrepid and the three suspects leave the bank. He followed them in a chase. After the Intrepid was involved in a single car accident, he was involved in a gun fight with one of the suspect. The Sheriff's Office in Aiken County says the officer was shot at and he returned fire. At least one of those shots from Officer Keller hit and killed Jelani Edwards, one of the three suspects wanted in the bank robbery.

A second suspect, Phillip Paul, who the family identified as Jelani's brother, was arrested after he surrendered to police. A third suspect, Randolph Wilson Jr., was just taken into custody later. Dozens of officers were in the Beech Island area, including a SWAT team.

Wilson and Paul are in the Aiken County Detention Center charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and armed robbery.

Officers pursued the subjects from Jackson through Beech Island to the state line where a road block was set up. The suspects abandoned their vehicle, which we're told is stolen, with Georgia tags. The officer in the shooting was not injured.

Investigators tell us it is very likely this group of three suspects are involved in other bank robberies in the local area. News 12 will have new information on those connections, as they develop today on our newscasts throughout the day.