A member of a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force shot a suspect in the leg yesterday afternoon in the Hill District, a shooting Pittsburgh police say was justified.

Four agents had cornered the suspect, Raymond L. Lowery, 37, of East Liberty, as he climbed into a gold sedan on the 2200 block of Bedford Avenue around 2:30 p.m. Mr. Lowery, who was wanted for a parole violation, accelerated over the curb, knocking down a street sign, and drove toward an agent.

The agent fired one shot into the lower part of the driver's side door, grazing Mr. Lowery in the upper left calf. The agent, a state parole officer working with the task force whose name was not released, was able to get out of the way as the car hit two other parked vehicles and came to a stop.

Mr. Lowery was taken to UPMC Mercy, where he was treated and released, then to Allegheny County Jail. He had been in jail for more than a year on drug charges before his release in March. A bench warrant for a parole violation was issued June 11.

City police, who responded after a bystander reported the gunshot, are investigating the incident. Assistant police Chief Maurita Bryant said that so far, homicide investigators have determined the agent acted properly.

"It does appear it was a life-threatening situation," she said.