The Middlesex County District Attorney's office is charging a Randolph man with a series of assault and weapons charges stemming from a Jan. 15 incident in which he allegedly forced his way into a Somerville woman's home, pinned her to the ground, threatened to rape and kill her at gunpoint and then shot himself in the foot.

James Cooper, 61, of Randolph, was indicted Feb. 9 by a Middlesex County grand jury, and he awaits an arraignment date in Middlesex Superior Court, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office.

He's charged with armed burglary, armed assault to murder, kidnapping, assault in a dwelling, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of ammunition without a firearms identification (FID) card, carrying a firearm with ammunition, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, receiving stolen property and assault and battery.

A harrowing experience

According to an announcement from the Middlesex District Attorney's office, Cooper and his victim were friends for several years, but Cooper refused to accept the victim wasn't interested in a romantic relationship.

According to the district attorney's account, on Jan. 15, at about 6:30 p.m., Cooper forced the lock on the victim's Somerville home, "threw the victim to the ground, sat on her abdomen and pinned her arms to the ground. When the victim began to scream, the defendant allegedly covered her mouth and nose with his hands, cutting off her oxygen supply."

The district attorney's account continues: "After some time, the defendant got up off of the victim and informed her that he had brought a pitchfork and a backpack containing a spool of rope, a revolver, and ammunition. The defendant allegedly threatened to rape and kill the victim before he took the firearm out of his backpack and loaded it and unloaded it several times. As the defendant spoke to the victim, he pointed the loaded gun at her."

Then, Cooper allegedly shot the gun at a wall behind him, waived the gun around the room, then discharged the gun again, hitting himself in the foot, according to the district attorney's account. The victim was ultimately able to call 911.

Cara O'Brien, a spokesperson for the district attorney, said the  DA's office, in order to protect the victim, was not releasing the location of the alleged attack. The Somerville Journal reported the incident took place on a street in East Somerville near Sullivan Square.