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Yellow Cab driver Michael Giddeon was shot in the stomach on Monday, July 6, 2015 when he was opening the gate to his driveway to go pick up a fare.

A cab driver is in critical condition after he exchanged gunfire during an early-morning holdup attempt in his Birmingham driveway.

Michael Gideon underwent surgery at UAB Hospital this morning. Police said he was shot in the abdomen.

The shooting happened shortly after 5:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of 10th Avenue South, just outside of the Southtown public housing community. Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said Gideon had received a phone call just after 5 a.m. to go pick up a fare.

Gideon left his home and was opening the fence at the end of his driveway to pull out his cab when he was approached by a black male, Edwards said. The gunmen attempted to rob Gideon and then shot at him. Gideon returned fire but police don't believe the robber was injured. He fled the scene.

Residents who live in the area reported hearing the gunfire and said they distinctly hear two different guns being fired. At least four shots were exchanged, they said. The cab was struck by bullets multiple times.

Gideon lives with, and cares for, his ailing father. Mansoor "Bob" Budt lives above the victim and runs the nearby corner store, Bob's Cafe. "He is a very nice guy, no trouble at all,'' Budt said. "He wasn't somebody that would bother anybody."

Budt said he wasn't home at the time of the shooting, but arrived to find his home and business surrounded by police and crime scene tape. He said he drove Gideon's father to the hospital to be with his son. "I'm just worried. My concern is for his health,'' he said. "I was so shocked and depressed after that, I just came home and started praying."

Police said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.