UPDATE: Coroner says suspect who was killed was aiming at officer when shot 7/2/2009 1:08 AM
By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
The single gunshot wound that killed a robbery suspect Wednesday was consistent with the account given by the Jackson police officer who fired the shot, authorities said Thursday.
Preliminary autopsy results show that the officer's account of Jelani Edwards' body position and behavior at the time of the confrontation was accurate, said Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton in a news release.
Edwards position, or stance, at the time of the shooting is called a "bladed shooting position," Carlton said. He would have been turned to his right side with the weapon in his right hand pointed at the officer when he received the fatal shot, he said.
Edwards, 30, of Aiken, was shot dead after a gunfight with a Jackson Police officer.
Authorities say Edwards may have been involved in a number of area armed
robberies. Two others who may have acted with him are in
police custody after a bank robbery in Jackson turned into a shootout.
Jackson Police Chief Dennis Rushton said Thursday that veteran officer
Any Keller, who shot and killed a bank robbery suspect in Beech Island
Wednesday, is on light duty while the SLED investigates the incident.
Rushton said the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office has been able to assist the department when they are in need of manpower.
Including Rushton and Keller, Jackson had four paid officers.
The state’s probe is a matter of routine investigation, which he said can take as long as a month.
Edwards was said to be one of three men who held up the First Citizens Bank on Atomic Road in Jackson about 12:20 p.m. Wednesday.
Phillip Perry Paul, 26, of 650 Silver Bluff Road, Apt. 1A, in Aiken is charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and armed robbery.
Randolph Wilson, 22, of 87 Elgin Court in Beech Island, is also charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and armed robbery.
The three bank robbers were dressed in dark clothing, wearing masks and gloves when they entered the bank about 12:19 p.m.
All three suspects were armed with handguns, said Sgt. Dave Myers with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
They received a bag of money and then took off in a burgundy vehicle, that was later reported stolen out of Georgia, and sped toward Beech Island on Old Jackson Highway. Witnesses said a dye pack exploded in the bag and red stained money flew from the car and onto the streets of Jackson.
A Jackson police officer then chased after the speeding vehicle into Beech Island.
At Sheraton Road and Old Jackson Highway, near the entrance of the Kimberly-Clark plant, the driver lost control and wrecked.
All three suspects exited the vehicle and Edwards reportedly pulled a handgun out from his waistband and shot at a Jackson police officer. The officer returned fire, killing the suspect.
Phillip Paul, who family said was Edward's younger brother, surrendered immediately.
Wilson took off running, officials said.
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office bloodhound tracking team along with SLED began a search, aided by a helicopter.
About four hours later, investigators, through a coordinated effort involving the FBI, SLED, The Aiken County Sheriff's Office, Richmond County Sheriff's Office, The Aiken Department of Public Safety, The Jackson Police Office, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Miami Field Office, learned that Wilson had been known to visit a Williams Way residence and executed a search warrant there.
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team gained entry into the home where he was taken into custody.
Officials have not said if he was with anyone or if a weapon was recovered.
Investigators have said they believe the men may have been involved in a number of hold ups in the area, adding the investigation was still open.
At presstime, officials had not identified the officer involved in the shooting.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Comment Title: dont feel sorry
dont fell sorry for the dead suspect. he was a dangerous man involved in lots of recent crime and deserved this. Unless you know him and what he was capable of then dont comment. remember what goes around comes around - and thats that!
Posted by: On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title: gene pool
Thanks to the ACSP for removing this thug from the ge e pool. Some people are too lazy to get an education and a job.
Posted by: lakecampers 445@yahoo.com On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title: Bank Robbers
Many Thanks to a well done job. All of us are tired of these thugs terrorizing decent people, These guys should all be ready to put away forever!
Posted by: Truth Slayer On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title: To the officer that had to shot
You will have to live with this for a long time. It may effect you later or now even. Although, rememeber that you took another thug out of our streets,and perhaps even saved future lives. Live in peace knowing that you did what was needed to be done. I agree that the officer's name should not have been posted! Why not post pics of the nasty thugs instead!
Posted by: On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title:
Congrats to all the local law enforcement agencies involved. Hopefully law enforcement will continue to shoot and kill these thugs who disregard the law and hopefully law abiding citizens will continue to shoot and kill these thugs who violate their individual and property rights. When are the black leaders in the area going to stand up and condemn all of this violence?
Posted by: On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title: Jackson bank holdup
First, let me applaud the Aiken paper for its coverage of the bank holdup. Now, each time one of these skunks gets his just reward we see stories in the next two or three cycles wherein the police have to justify killing this scum. In the world I grew up in if you shot at a law enforcement officer you put your life in peril. Jelani Edwards saw too many cop chase and violent movies in his life, then thought he was bullet proof. In Hollywood world those gunned down get up after the cameras are shut off and go about their business. Jelani was helped up by the undertakers. He got just what he deserved, and by doing so he made my day.
Posted by: S. McIntosh On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title:
Two in a short peroid of time. Aiken County Sheriff's Office and all Law Enforcement Officers in Aiken went more than 35 years without having to use Deadly Force. That's an excelent record for the population and crime rate. (That's an excellent record for any area) Times have changed and crime has become more violent. It's good to know that they can do what they must and continue without hesitation until the call is completed. Just remember that shooting back can get "YOU" killed, If there is time, "shoot first if you must" Well done
Posted by: On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title:
Hey Aiken Standard, why do you need to print the Officer's name involved in the shooting? Is it so you can plaster his face, address and phone number all over your pathetic excuse of a newspaper. It will do the general public no good to know this officer's name because it serves no purpose in the further development of this story.
Posted by: HDL On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title:
good job tp all involved,
Posted by: tax paying citizen On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title: sick and tired of thugs
GREAT JOB ACSO, JACKSON PD, AIKEN PS, RICHMOND CO PD, and to MIKE HUNT .I i hheard this on my police scanner and within miniuts of this robbery these departments had a primeter set up and it was on. feel sorry for the mother and father of the person killed. but when the guy pulled the gun he tried and convicted him self.and lost the trial.
Posted by: On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title: Another One Bites The Dust
Where are all the bleeding heart liberals screaming foul? Buffoon holds up a bank,shoots at an officer of the law and gets his just reward.Sometimes things work out correctly.
Posted by: Good Guy Backer On: 7/2/2009
Comment Title: Sweet Justice
If we kept the body count up by taking care of these douche bags like Jackson P.D. did we would not have near the crime we have now. No love lost, you pull a gun on the Police you know whats going to happen next. Good Job 101 you went home today. Good Guys 1 Bad Guys 0.
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