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.