A U.S. postal carrier accosted by two men this morning on the Central North Side was shot in the hand after he refused their demand for money and ran off.

The shooting occurred about 10:20 a.m. when the carrier was approached at North Taylor and Palo Alto streets while emptying a mail relay box.

According to police, two black males, one brandishing a handgun, approached and demanded money.

The carrier, who was not identified by police except as white and middle-aged, ran east toward Sherman Avenue as four or five shots were fired at him. Police said a bullet grazed one of his hands.

Lt. Kevin Kraus said a witness in a van, parked near where the postman was loaded onto a stretcher minutes later, told the mail man to lie in down behind bushes until the ambulance arrived.

The two suspects ran down Palo Alto Street toward West Park. A resident who saw them said they wore big, puffy coats. Lt. Kraus said their clothes were dark.

Police said the carrier maintained possession of his mail bag. No mail was taken from the relay box.

Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.