Officer in shooting named, investigation continues

Jackson Police Chief Dennis Rushton said Thursday that veteran officer Andy Keller, who shot and killed a bank robbery suspect in Beech Island on Wednesday, will be assigned to desk duty until the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division concludes its investigation.

Keller has been an officer with the police department since 1990, the chief confirmed Thursday.

Rushton said he expects Keller will return to the road soon but added that sometimes it can take state agents a month or more to investigate an officer-involved shooting.

State officials would not discuss the investigation.

A spokesperson did say there is no set time frame on the case, adding also that she could not address the specifics of the investigation.

Rushton said the investigation and the change of assignment is in keeping with standard procedure.

Including Rushton and Keller, Jackson employs four officers.

The chief said Jackson routinely works with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and feels comfortable calling on them if they need manpower assistance while Keller is on "light duty."

Jelani Edwards, the robbery suspect who was shot and killed Wednesday,may have been involved in a number of area armed robberies, and the two men taken into custody may have acted with him, officials have said.

Edwards, 30, who moved to the Aiken area late last year after he was released from a Florida prison, had a lengthy criminal history that includes several armed robberies, a carjacking, resisting arrest, grand theft auto and assaults.

He 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.

The surviving men also face auto theft charges.

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.

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 Department, 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 and he was arrested.

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 holdups in the area, adding that the investigation was still open.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.