Definitly staged, which brings us to the real issue -- Professional journalists paying grown children to flirt with death in front of a camera lens. I think it's reasonable to assume they're paid. Why else would it happen before a group of photographers? ...
Center of mass, agreed. The shot where they turn to run, (IMO) shows the instant of bullet impact, and the entry hole is visible just behind the left armpit, in another photo. Bleeding was internal, the visible blood ran through the clothing, or out the dead man's face. A head or neck hit would have produced LOTS more blood, as the heart continued to pump.
These photographers ARE suicidal -- they're banking on the seemingly surgical nature of the rifle fire.
It is kind of funny, people looking for the wound. They might want to look for something a little more obvious. Like the different walls in both pictures, or even the curb which is no where in sight in the 2nd picture.