BEECH ISLAND -- A Jackson bank robbery suspect has died after a shootout with police, and two other suspects are in custody. And police think the three may be linked to other area holdups.

Jelani Edwards, 30, of Aiken, was fatally shot in an 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 them,however the Aiken County jail said two men facing armed robbery charges were booked tonight. Randolph Wilson, 23, and Paul Philip, 27, both of Beech Island, were the only people brought in on armed robbery charges.

Aiken County Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Myers said the robbery occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. today 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 on Old Jackson Highway.

He said all three suspects jumped out, and one was taken immediately into custody. A second suspect, he said, came out with a pistol and fired at a Jackson Police Department officer, missing him. The Jackson officer returned fire, striking the suspect, Sgt. Myers said.

Sgt. Myers said Wednesday’s arrests might also help solve some other past armed robberies in the county.

“There is a high probability that this is going to clear up some of the other bank robberies we’ve had. That is good news,” he said, noting how a recent bank robbery in Langley is among three or four that “fits the bill.”

“It is like it’s almost movie like,” the sergeant said of the day’s events, which included a several-hours-long lockdown of Kimberly-Clark.

Sgt. Myers said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is now investigating the shooting that occurred. Sgt. Myers didn’t have the name of the Jackson officer who fired. A dispatcher at Jackson Police Department said no one was available there for comment. A page sent to Jackson Police Chief Dennis Rushton hasn’t been immediately returned. Sgt. Myers said the chief was out of town at the time of the incident and was headed back to the area.

Mr. Carlton said an autopsy is scheduled for Mr. Edwards for tomorrow morning in Newberry.

Reach Preston Sparks at (803) 648-1395 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com