FBI agent Winfred E. Hopton disputed Smith's claim in a letter to the editors of "TIME", published in the November 19, 1979 issue. He stated that he was one of four FBI agents present when Floyd was killed on a farm several miles from East Liverpool, Ohio. According to Hopton, members of the East Liverpool police department arrived only after Floyd was already mortally wounded. He also claimed that, when the four agents confronted Floyd, he turned to fire on them, and two of the four killed him almost instantly. Smith's account said that Herman Hollis shot the wounded Floyd on Purvis's order, but Hopton claimed that Hollis was not even present. At least one other source discredits Smith's version, stating that although Smith's story received wide currency, Hollis was not at the orchard that afternoon.Hollis' FBI profile does not mention his participation in this incident.Hopton also stated that Floyd's body was transported back to East Liverpool in Hopton's own car.