Why was David only shot once?

And Betty Lou shot 5 times. Any theories on this?

I have no idea, honestly. Maybe the killer figured he didn't need to shoot him anymore since he landed a head shot?

She was escaping by running away 

David shot in the brain went down at once probably thought he would comply and it would end okay

David was at close range then?

It is assumed David was made to exit the passenger door
I wonder if it was the back door or front ....her mini skirt was short . was David in the pass side already? that car was a 3 seat frt. seat
may have been that the killer portrayed a cop or was a cop ( had a real badge ) So David thought he was busted and very concerned as to what was going to happen when his and her family learned of this and classmates , like no more car privledges or dating for the near future . possibly David up agianst the car realized this was not a cop and started to fight

It's hard to say for sure. Anything is possible, really.

Well any shot that enters the brain , if it fails to kill, then at the very least it's going to incapacitate. One round ejected into the head and Zodiac would have watched as David Slumped instantly to the ground. 

 Scientists believe that the speed in which a bullet travels through brain tissue is faster than the brain's ability to register it and send any pain signals. Scientists working with medical experts such as neurosurgeon's say that when a person get's shot in the head, there is no pain felt by the victim as the bullet is carving through brain tissue faster than the brain's ability to send electrical signals. We've all heard coroners state that "So and So was dead before they hit the ground" after someone has been shot in the head.

 The Brain is the organ that sends pain signals and the brain is what gives Human Beings consciousness. Take away the brain's ability to function or stay alive, and you take away consciousness.  A person may be alive technically with a heart beat on life support, but if Brain Death occurs then life support will be ceased. When the Human Brain dies, consciousness dies along with it. 

  Anyway. Due to the Dave Faraday Autopsy findings with injuries appearing consistent with injuries seen in fist fights I always consider, maybe even like to believe even, that when Zodiac wrote that "Some of them fought, it was horrible." He was making reference to David Faraday.

 There's two types of personalities. There are those who will do what is ordered by their attacker hoping that compliance will see them come out of this safely, and then there is the 'Have a Go' personalities who won't play along in the role of victim and will resist the offender any-which way they can.

  From the reports of Him not standing for a 3rd Male pestering Betty-Lou for a date and thus tell's Him that He knows of His drug  and dealing and warned Him to back off or the Authorities will be informed.  Reported to also have been engaged in a fight with a different young Man and the Eagle Scout was said to have a 'No Nonsense' attitude and was not the type to stand by and allow He and Betty to be Victimized and would have, given the slightest chance,  gone at an Offender to try to disarm Him.

WelshChappie wrote:Well any shot that enters the brain , if it fails to kill, then at the very least it's going to incapacitate. One round ejected into the head and Zodiac would have watched as David Slumped instantly to the ground. Scientists believe that the speed in which a bullet travels into & through brain tissue and matter, the bullet would be traveling at such a speed and carving through brain tissues that the brain itself has no time to register and send pain signals because the bullet is moving faster than the Brain can react or know what's happened and this is why it's assumed that when A person get's shot in the head, there is no pain felt if Consciousness i lost instantly. Individual who has been shot will not know nor feel anything at all. 

 The Brain is the organ that sends pain signals and the brain is what gives Human Beings consciousness. Take away the brain's ability to function or stay alive, and you take away consciousness.  A person may be alive technically with a heart beat on life support, but if Brain Death occurs then life support will be ceased. When the Human Brain dies, consciousness dies along with it. 

  Anyway. Due to the Dave Faraday Autopsy findings with injuries appearing consistent with injuries seen in fist fights I always consider, maybe even like to believe even, that when Zodiac wrote that "Some of them fought, it was horrible." He was making reference to David Faraday.

 There's two types of personalities. There are those who will do what is ordered by their attacker hoping that compliance will see them come out of this safely, and then there is the 'Have a Go' personalities who won't play along in the role of victim and will resist the offender any-which way they can.

  From the reports of Him not standing for a 3rd Male pestering Betty-Lou for a date and thus tell's Him that He knows of His drug  and dealing and warned Him to back off or the Authorities will be informed.  Reported to also have been engaged in a fight with a different young Man and the Eagle Scout was said to have a 'No Nonsense' attitude and was not the type to stand by and allow He and Betty to be Victimized and would have, given the slightest chance,  gone at an Offender to try to disarm Him.

This. And anyone who lives through a bullet to the brain is going to wish they were dead.

Rocketman wrote:

WelshChappie wrote:Well any shot that enters the brain , if it fails to kill, then at the very least it's going to incapacitate. One round ejected into the head and Zodiac would have watched as David Slumped instantly to the ground. Scientists believe that the speed in which a bullet travels into & through brain tissue and matter, the bullet would be traveling at such a speed and carving through brain tissues that the brain itself has no time to register and send pain signals because the bullet is moving faster than the Brain can react or know what's happened and this is why it's assumed that when A person get's shot in the head, there is no pain felt if Consciousness i lost instantly. Individual who has been shot will not know nor feel anything at all. 

 The Brain is the organ that sends pain signals and the brain is what gives Human Beings consciousness. Take away the brain's ability to function or stay alive, and you take away consciousness.  A person may be alive technically with a heart beat on life support, but if Brain Death occurs then life support will be ceased. When the Human Brain dies, consciousness dies along with it. 

  Anyway. Due to the Dave Faraday Autopsy findings with injuries appearing consistent with injuries seen in fist fights I always consider, maybe even like to believe even, that when Zodiac wrote that "Some of them fought, it was horrible." He was making reference to David Faraday.

 There's two types of personalities. There are those who will do what is ordered by their attacker hoping that compliance will see them come out of this safely, and then there is the 'Have a Go' personalities who won't play along in the role of victim and will resist the offender any-which way they can.

  From the reports of Him not standing for a 3rd Male pestering Betty-Lou for a date and thus tell's Him that He knows of His drug  and dealing and warned Him to back off or the Authorities will be informed.  Reported to also have been engaged in a fight with a different young Man and the Eagle Scout was said to have a 'No Nonsense' attitude and was not the type to stand by and allow He and Betty to be Victimized and would have, given the slightest chance,  gone at an Offender to try to disarm Him.

This. And anyone who lives through a bullet to the brain is going to wish they were dead.

Yep! A lot of people think David may have tried to fight his killer and that he was shot up close.

I believe that David and Betty Lou were told it was going to be a robbery and to stand with there hands on top of the roof of the car. The chalk out line of David's body pretty much shows he fell straight back from where he was standing. The killer knew that the one shot in that area of the head with a 22 was deadly and didn't need to fire another shot at him. Also I think that when that shot was fired, was when Betty Lou fled around the killers car for protection , knowing she would be next or taken at gun point.Zodiac at her heals to stop her. Once he knew she was dead he probably saw that David was as well, so no need for another shot.

That makes sense. Zodiac did tell Hartnell and Sheppard that he was going to rob them. Well, he wanted to steal Hartnell's car to go to Mexico, is what he said. Not sure if he mentioned anything about stealing any of their personal belongings.