It is possible that both events were similarly choreographed.

[taxi]

Many people are discussing the fatal shot from the perspective of it being too high for a torso shot and too low for a head shot, and I agree. If the shooter was looking to hit the trapezoid muscles, the muscles that go down to the shoulders from the neck, then it would be like nicking an ear. The shot would be the correct height and a near miss would place a deadly shot in the artery versus a flesh wound. But that's just my thinking.