Suspects could be linked to other area crimes

A prompt response to a Jackson bank robbery last week may clear as many as eight open criminal investigations in the area, said Aiken County Sheriff's Office Capt. Troy Elwell.

The crimes include other bank robberies, convenience store holdups and other crimes, the sheriff's office captain said.

He would not identify which crimes investigators may have cleared or if all three men linked to the holdup last week have been on a recent crime spree. But deputies said that they believe they will solve a number of open cases.

Jelani Edwards, the robbery suspect who was shot and killed after the holdup, moved to the Aiken area late last year after he was released from a Florida prison.

He had a lengthy criminal history which included several armed robberies, a carjacking, resisting arrest, grand theft auto and assaults, according to documents.

Phillip Perry Paul, 26, of 650 Silver Bluff Road Apt. 1A in Aiken, and Randolph Wilson, 22, of 87 Elgin Court in Beech Island, were arrested within hours of the holdup.

Paul reportedly surrendered after the getaway vehicle the three were in crashed during a police pursuit.

Deputies and law enforcement officers from throughout the area then went on a four-hour manhunt for Wilson.

He was found hiding out in a home nearby.

Wilson surrendered after SWAT officers entered the home.

Paul and Wilson are being held on bank robbery charges.

All three suspects were armed with handguns when they reportedly held up the bank, police said.

Investigators said at the time they feared the men might have been involved in a series of crimes where an assault-style weapon was used. Investigators have not said whether they recovered a similar assault-style weapon, only that the suspects did not use one during the bank robbery.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.