Yes. Gero likely reprogrammed Androids #17 & #18 because they almost killed them in the present timeline, and then he likely programmed #16 to be just as evil.
I also just realized that he already tried killing Goku but Piccolo got in the way, and then he tried killing the z fighter who pissed him off the most after Goku and Piccolo since Krillin cut off his tail.