ROBBERY SUSPECT TO BE ARRAIGNED.

Byline: Brent Hopkins and Lisa Van Proyen Staff Writers

VAN NUYS- A robbery suspect in a botched holdup at Costco is expected to be arraigned today while a preliminary investigation found that a 29- year-old shopper was most likely killed by the suspects' gunfire - not that of an armored car guard.

After the Sunday robbery attempt left one dead and two other shoppers critically wounded, Costco also has stepped up security. For the first time, it has armed security guards and is working with the Los Angeles Police Department, which has increased patrols of the store parking lot and nearby streets.

``Since the incident is so fresh in the past, we're putting armed guards so both the employees and the members can put their minds at ease,'' said Bruce Greenwood, a senior vice president with Costco.

Following the gun battle, police apprehended one suspect, Ramon Gutierrez, 38, of Tijuana, but two others remain at large.

Gutierrez is expected to be arraigned today on one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of attempted robbery, if his injuries permit him to appear in court, Assistant District Attorney Kerri Modder said. He was shot in the leg during the robbery incident.

Lt. Jim Grayson of the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division said detectives continued interviewing witnesses Tuesday. They are also comparing the rounds of gunfire, he said.

According to preliminary findings, the guard fired three rounds at the suspects.

``From all indications from walking through it and witness statements, the direction the guard was firing at was not even in the direction where the person was killed (behind the guard),'' Grayson said. ``The person was most likely killed by the suspect's gunfire. The guard never even fired in the direction of the (other) people hit.''

Executives with Sectran Security, the guard's employer, declined to comment on the incident.

Greenwood said the shooting was regrettable, but justified under Sectran's policy.

``If we could do it all over again, I wish he'd have holstered his weapon and surrendered the bag,'' Greenwood said. ``I certainly can't slight him for acting that way. I wasn't in his shoes.''

Sunday, robbers opened fire on an armored car guard employed by Sectran Security during a money transfer. In the ensuing firefight, two robbers armed with automatic rifles gunned down shoppers Owen Alexander Wolf, 29, of Studio City, and wounded Kien Chau, 57, and his wife, Bachtuyett Tran, 51.

Chau remains in critical condition at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, and Tran's condition is listed as serious at Providence Holy Cross Medical center, according to spokespeople from both hospitals.

On Tuesday, shoppers said they weren't worried about their safety and described Sunday's holdup as an isolated incident.

``I feel safe here,'' said Kurt Moller, of North Hills. ``The things that happened Sunday can happen any place - there's crazy people everywhere.''