San Francisco unions lose bid to get heavily-armed painter, guilty of notorious gang killing, on bail and back to work after latest gun charges

April 22, 2026

A felon convicted of a notorious San Francisco gang killing was denied bail in federal court today after allegedly being found with another gun while on bail for gun possession – despite union officials’ pleas that he was a superb painter whom they would be delighted to have back on the job.

Prosecutors say Cecil Terrell, 38, was found with a loaded Glock 9mm pistol after cops discovered him asleep in his car at a stop sign with the engine running on the morning of February 7 2026 in the city’s Hunters Point district.

Officers knocked on the window for two minutes before Terrell woke up. They then saw the weapon in the center console cupholder.

Still of SFPD body worn camera footage of Terrell’s arrest with gun visible

Terrell was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for the 2006 slaying of 20-year-old Lloyd Randleston. Terrell was a member of the Broke Niggas Thievin’ gang. Fellow gang member London Shaw, who pulled the trigger, remains in jail for the killing.

Then-district attorney Kamala Harris said at the time she intended to “decapitate” the gang.

Less than one year after his 2016 parole, San Francisco cops found him with a loaded handgun hidden inside his car’s dashboard panel. He received another 150 days in jail.

After his release he was found with another gun in 2017, after which he was indicted by a federal grand jury and ultimately sentenced to 30 months for firearms possession.

In July 2023, prosecutors say, he was found with a .40 caliber Glock 22 equipped with a drum magazine and automatic fire switch.

He was granted pretrial release in that case by Judge Victor Hwang who told him not to possess weapons.

The Glock pistol and drum magazine found in July 2023

Terrell was arrested on February 7 and originally brought before state judges at San Francisco’s Hall of Justice.

Remarkably he won pretrial release again.

Federal prosecutors then obtained an indictment resulting in Terrell’s appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alex Tse at the city’s federal courthouse.

“Mr Terrell, I’m very concerned that this is another gun charge,” said Judge Tse. “I don’t know what more I can say to you to tell you you should not have guns.”

He was dubious as to defense claims that Terrell could safely be bailed.

“I feel that everything has been done to keep him away from trouble – and he still went back to the guns.”

“I have an obligation to the community,” concluded the judge, who ordered Terrell to be kept in custody pending trial.

Tse’s decision will have disappointed bosses of Painters & Drywall Finishers Local Union 913 and the Finishing Trades Institute who submitted testimonials to the court paying tribute to Terrell’s character and dedication in the workplace. A local 913 representative was in court to support him.