A 31-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier was charged Monday with the shooting death of a civilian contractor Sept. 13 on an American base in Iraq.

Spc. Beyshee O. Velez was charged with two counts of murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, three counts of assault and one count of fleeing apprehension. Although he is charged with two "specifications" of murder, the Army said Velez can only be convicted of one of the counts.

Velez is accused of shooting to death Lucas "Trent" Vinson, 27, a contractor who worked for Houston-based KBR at a base in the city of Tikrit. Vinson worked there with his father, Myron "Bugsy" Vinson, and an uncle.

A murder conviction carries a maximum sentence of life behind bars and a dishonorable discharge. The maximum penalty for a conviction of assault with a deadly weapon is eight years confinement and a dishonorable discharge.

Velez is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. He is being held in Hawai'i pending the outcome of his trial.

The Army did not provide details of the incident, but Vinson's family told The Associated Press that Vinson was shot three times after offering a ride to an American soldier who flagged down Vinson's vehicle on the base. No other information was provided.

Vinson, of Leesville, La., had worked in Iraq beginning in 2003 before returning to Louisiana. He went back to Iraq last year with KBR and was set to return to Leesville for a break on Oct. 24.

KBR is a support contractor that provides troops with essential services, including housing, meals, mail delivery and laundry.