AIKEN --- A Jackson bank robbery suspect was killed Wednesday in a shootout with police and two other suspects were arrested after a chase that ended in a crash.
"It's almost movie-like," Aiken County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Dave Myers said of the day's events, which included a lockdown of the Kimberly-Clark plant in Beech Island that lasted several hours and a temporary shutdown of Old Jackson Highway in that area.
Jelani Edwards, 30, of Aiken, was fatally shot in the exchange of gunfire with police, according to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.
Two other suspects were taken into custody -- one soon after the robbery and another after police surrounded a house on Williams Way. Jackson police would not identify the men, however the Aiken County jail confirmed it had booked two men on armed robbery charges late Wednesday. They were identified as Randolph Wilson, 23, and Paul Philip, 27, both of Beech Island.
Sgt. Myers said Wednesday's robbery occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. at First Citizens Bank at 401 Atomic Road. He said the suspects then led police on a chase toward the Georgia line that ended in a crash near the entrance to the Kimberly-Clark plant.
He said all three suspects jumped out of the vehicle, and one was taken immediately into custody. A second, identified as Mr. Edwards, fired a pistol at a Jackson Police Department officer and missed him, according to authorities. The Jackson officer returned fire, striking Mr. Edwards.
Sgt. Myers said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting. He said he didn't have the name of the Jackson officer who shot Mr. Edwards. A dispatcher at the Jackson Police Department said no one was available for comment, and a page sent to Jackson Police Chief Dennis Rushton on Wednesday afternoon was not immediately returned.
Police said the arrests could help them solve other bank robberies.
Staff writer Adam Folk contributed to this report.
Reach Preston Sparks at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.






