Eight U.S. soldiers have been charged in connection with the October death of a fellow soldier in Afghanistan , the Army said Wednesday . Pvt . Danny Chen , 19 , was found dead in a guard tower , apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound . Chen 's family says that until they see the autopsy results themselves , they can not confirm or deny it was suicide . The eight officers and enlisted servicemen face various charges , including dereliction of duty , making false statements , maltreatment and involuntary manslaughter , the Army said in a statement . The Army did not specify what alleged acts by the soldiers resulted in the charges , which were filed Wednesday . But in correspondence with his family before his death , Chen complained of harassment by his fellow soldiers . At a candlelight vigil for Chen held in Manhattan last week , his brother , Banny Chen , read from a letter the soldier had sent to his family . `` They ask if I 'm from China a few times a day . They also called out my name , 'Chen , ' in a goat-like voice sometimes for no reason . No idea how it started , but it 's just best to ignore it . '' The Chen family told The New York Times in October that officials said that Chen had suffered physical abuse and ethnic slurs by superiors , including an incident in which he was dragged out of bed and across the floor for failing to turn off a water heater after showering . In its announcement , the Army makes no mention of the harassment allegations , but states , `` As the legal process continues , further information will be published as it becomes available . '' The charges stem from `` conduct that occurred in the time leading up to ( Chen 's ) death , '' an Army official familiar with details of the investigation told CNN . He declined to be identified because the military criminal investigation remains ongoing . The Army official said the soldiers are essentially charged with hazing and abusing Chen in the weeks and days before he apparently killed himself . But the case remains open and other charges could be filed , the official said . The soldiers facing charges were identified as 1st Lt. Daniel J. Schwartz , Staff Sgt . Blaine G. Dugas , Staff Sgt . Andrew J . Van Bockel , Sgt . Adam M. Holcomb , Sgt . Jeffrey T. Hurst , Spc . Thomas P. Curtis , Spc . Ryan J. Offutt and Sgt . Travis F. Carden . All the soldiers belonged to C Company , 3rd Battalion , 21st Infantry Regiment , 1st Styker Brigade Combat Team , 25th Infantry Division , the Army said . Schwartz , the only officer charged , faces eight counts of dereliction of duty . The enlisted soldiers face more serious charges , including dereliction of duty but also maltreatment , assault , involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide . The eight men charged have been moved to a different base in southern Afghanistan and remain under restriction . They are not permitted to leave the base , the Army official said . `` We feel some comfort and relief to know the Army is taking it seriously , '' Chen 's mother , Su Zhan Chen , said through a translator at a news conference Wednesday . `` We are cautiously optimistic because of today 's news , '' said Elizabeth Ou Yang , president of the Asian-American group OCA-NY , who spoke as a representative of the family . But , she added , the family hopes that those responsible will be not just charged , but convicted . `` They must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law , '' Yang added . Rep. Nydia Velazquez , D-New York , who was also present with the family at the conference , said that she has requested the autopsy results and asked the inspector general of the Army to conduct a separate investigation . `` We are here today to demand answers ... and that begins with a full accounting of all the facts , '' she said . In a similar case earlier this year , three Marines were charged with beating and hazing a fellow Marine , Harry Lew , after Lew fell asleep on watch duty . The Marine was beaten and forced to do exercises and to dig a hole until the early morning . When the punishment was over , he climbed into the hole he had just dug and shot himself , said Rep. Judy Chu of California , Lew 's aunt .
The family is glad for the charges , but wants convictions . Those charged have been moved to a different base in Afghanistan . Comment: The charges were filed Wednesday .