Family makes nice after drawing gun on neighbors

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — When the Canoles family walked over to their neighbor's house Wednesday, they came with bright pink flowers and an apology.

Robert Canoles said, "I hope to be good neighbors a long time and we can fish together."

The last time Robert and his son, Branden, were in their neighbor's living room, detectives say they had guns and they thought they were confronting robbers.

Branden Canoles told Channel 2's Linda Stouffer, "It was a rough night."

When Newton County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the Covington home, they arrested Angelica and Jean-Joseph Kalonji.

But once it was clear the Kalonjis were not robbers, just new owners changing the locks, the charges were dropped.

Now the Canoles face charges of aggravated assault and false imprisonment.

Robert Canoles told Stouffer, "It was a big misunderstanding. I just got scared, didn't know what to think that night."

On Wednesday, the Kalonjis offered their neighbors cake, apologies accepted. Angelica Kalonji told Stouffer, "I accept it with all my heart, the apologies, ready to be the best neighbors now and forever."

Robert Canoles said he hopes others learn from his mistakes, "I just hope people learn a little humanity -- trust each other, be kind."

WSBTV