ALBANY — As tensions exploded over a fatal police shooting in the South End, Chief Steven Krokoff said Friday an officer had "no choice but to use deadly physical force" when a parolee tried to lift a loaded handgun in a tussle with police.

Nahcream Moore, 19, was shot three times in the torso and died in front of 441 S. Pearl St., a death police did not explain for hours, fueling rumors and stoking public anger that exploded at a news conference

"These are difficult times. Please don't rush to judgment," Krokoff said at the unorthodox forum that drew some 100 people, including Moore's family and friends, political leaders and the woman who was driving the SUV in which Moore was a passenger.

As they investigate the shooting, police may be without two potentially key pieces of evidence. Two people briefed on the case said the struggle happened out of range of the police cruiser's dashboard camera and the microphones officers wear to capture audio during arrests were not activated.

The news conference quickly turned chaotic, as the shouts of angry residents overpowered Krokoff's voice. Just feet from the chief, the grieving mother and family of the 19-year-old Moore held each other silently.

"This is a painful, painful time — we understand and we feel it," Krokoff, his voice rising, told the crowd. "We are part of this community also. We are not against you. We are with you. And we will continue to work with you ... It's time for us to start getting rid of the anger, start getting rid of the rage. And let's work together. Let's work together. I'm here to work with you. I want you to work with me. I want this to be the last press conference I ever have regarding an individual that is shot by a police officer."

The shooting happened on the 400 block of South Pearl Street around 10:20 p.m. Thursday. Patrol officers recognized the driver as a relative of Moore's. Moore was wanted for a parole violation and was a suspect in a robbery on Alexander Street, police said.

Krokoff, promising "utmost transparency," provided the following account of how the incident unfolded:

Officers Jason Kelley and Gregory Mulligan pulled up to a Range Rover sport utility vehicle in front of 441 South Pearl St. Officers suspected Moore was in the vehicle. They found him in the backseat and got him out. A struggle began.

"Nahcream went to lift his handgun that he had in his possession, and the officer's partner, who had disengaged at that point, witnessed it and had no choice but to use deadly physical force," Krokoff said.

Mulligan fired three shots, hitting Moore in the torso, he said. A loaded .22-caliber handgun was recovered.

He said the shooting would be investigated by the department's Office of Professional Standards and reviewed by the district attorney. Krokoff said Mulligan, with five years' experience, and Kelley, a six-year veteran, are assigned to the South Station. He said both have exemplary records.

As the news conference continued, the questions came not from the press — but the audience.

"Folks, we got to keep things in a civil manner please?" police spokesman James Miller pleaded.

Krokoff added, "This is actually something we don't normally do, but we felt it was necessary because we wanted to get the correct information out there."

At that point, the driver of the vehicle — Willisa Marshall — yelled that Moore had been shot in the head and there had been no traffic stop. (Krokoff later said that her version was untrue.)

Krokoff told the crowd, "I am going to ask everybody in the room, out of respect, please, for our community — and it's our community — that you allow me the opportunity to find out the answers you're asking."

Marshall screamed that Moore did not shoot during the incident, prompting applause.

"I want to work with everyone in the room," Krokoff said, asking community leaders for help. As the yelling continued, he said, "There's nothing else I can answer."

One woman said Moore was shot "like a dog!"

City Council President Carolyn McLaughlin tried to quell the chaos. "One at a time!" she said.

"They're killing our kids, Carolyn! They're killing our kids!" a woman screamed back. "You've got to understand our anger!"

Krokoff later said, "I know everybody is upset in here." Then, he exclaimed, "and I pledge to you that all of these questions, given the time, will be answered. I just don't have all the answers right now. I wish I did."

State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision records show Moore was paroled in August after prison time for attempted robbery. Carole Weaver, department spokeswoman, said a warrant was issued for his arrest on Dec. 16 because he missed an appointment with his parole officer three days earlier.

Weaver said another passenger in the car was also on parole, Rashad Caldwell. He taken into custody after the shooting for allegedly violating his curfew and fraternizing with a parolee.

Earlier Friday, Marshall told the Times Union she was behind the wheel of the SUV. She said she never saw Moore reach for a weapon and that officers struggled with him on the sidewalk.

"He did what they asked and got out the car. And once he got out the car they tussled with him," Marshall said. "Two seconds later gunshots start going off."

"I didn't see no gun," she said. "If he did have one, I'm sure he did not approach them with his."

Police confirmed that a victim in the Alexander Street robbery linked to Moore told officers the robber in that case had a gun similar to the one police said they found on Moore.

At a noon gathering outside police headquarters, residents and officials said tension was high. Dozens of people — including Common Council members Barbara Smith, Ron Bailey, Lester Freeman and Dominick Calsolaro — aired their concerns.

"The community is so angry and eager, I don't want us to miss the truth. Whatever it is, go from there," said Jacqui Williams, a community organizer and South End resident.

Freeman, who represents the South End, said police must release as many details as possible.

"Right now, you have all kinds of rumors going on. This could be a powder keg," he said.

Moore's mother declined to speak to reporters.

Family spokesman Jamel Muhammed said she was holding up "as best she can." The woman, he said, also has a daughter.

Muhammed, who also worked with the SNUG anti-gun campaign, said the city needed to confront the broader issue of young people putting themselves in situations where they come into contact with police.

It is the second fatal police shooting in the city in two years. A Feb. 16, 2010 shooting was captured on police and utility pole cameras and later made public.

A grand jury cleared two officers who opened fire on parolee Howard Tucker, 37. Tucker was shot after he pinned an officer with the car. Police said they found a loaded revolver in his car.

On South Pearl Street Friday, six burning candles were placed in Moore's memory. A woman put a teddy bear beside them. Friends of the man, some in tears, said they were skeptical he had a gun.

Jovaughn Morant, 20, said he had known Moore since age 13.

"They're saying he did something wrong and they shot him," Morant said. "I want to see a gun."

They were skeptical of the police version of events.

"Why is there never a chance?" said Moore's cousin, Daishon Ross.

"(He) was a young man on the streets of Albany," Morant said. "He was kind. He was funny. He was going through trials and tribulations."