A man and woman are dead and the alleged shooter is in a local hospital Sunday after shooting himself, police say.

MASSILLON A Jackson Township man was in a local hospital Sunday and two people are dead after a shooting Saturday night on the city's northeast side.

Investigators say Shane Varner, 29, tried to kill himself at his Jackson Township home after shooting an ex-girlfriend, Tara Clossman, and her boyfriend, Michael Lovette.

Massillon Police Sgt. Jes Harting said officers responded at about 9 p.m. Saturday to a call that a man and woman had been shot in a car. Lovette, 33, of Massillon, and Clossman, 25, of Akron, were pulling away from Lovette's house in the 900 block of 17th Street NE when they were shot, Harting said.

Lovette, who was in the driver's seat, was pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m. at Affinity Medical Center, said Harry Campbell, Stark County Coroner's investigator. Clossman was taken by helicopter to an Akron hospital, where she later died during surgery, according to police.

Varner suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Campbell said, and he was taken to Mercy Medical Center. He remained in intensive care Sunday afternoon.

"It looked like they were just leaving their house," Harting said of the victims. "We think the ex-boyfriend was waiting to see them leave."

The couple was shot through a car window, Harting said, and the shooter drove away. A neighbor had to put the car in park. Massillon Fire Department also responded to the scene to assist the victims.

"I'm glad we got there as quickly as we could and we could locate him," Harting said. "I'm glad we got to him before he could hurt anybody else. It's tragic, but there's nothing we could have done for the victims."

Lovette's friends remembered him as a good father to his daughter and a man who enjoyed cars, Jeeps and motorcycles.

"A great guy. A great dad. Great all-around," said Mike Ross, who had been friends with Lovette for about 10 years. Ross was Lovette's roommate at the house they rented in a neighborhood not far from Reservoir Park. He was out of town when the shooting occurred.

Lovette's brother, Aaron Robey, and sisters, Holly Regener and Roxanne Thristino, echoed Ross' sentiments. Robey said his brother was a kind person and "loved his family more than anything." He wrote in a message to The Independent that his brother "held down a good job at Timken Steel not to provide for himself, but to make sure he could afford to do anything his daughter needed. He loved his daughter, Mallory, and my mother, Kathy, more than anything in this world."

Regener also wrote in a Facebook message to The Inde in part: "Michael was ... someone I could trust, count on, laugh with, cry with, or just hang out with. We had a blast playing outside together as kids. I'll always look back and admire the way he lived. He took risks, never feared, and wore his heart on his sleeve. But mostly, I'll just look back and miss his humor, his laugh, his smiles and his hugs. He will truly be missed and loved forever."

Thristino wrote in a text message that even as young children, her brother was loving and compassionate. Lovette's daughter was the "light of his life" and his "vivacious spirit" will live on through her, she wrote.

"My hope is that he will be remembered by his infectious smile and fun-loving attitude, and that everyone honors him by living life full-heartedly, just like Michael has done."

Robey continued: "He was more than just a brother to me, but a friend who would walk across the world to save my life. No human deserves to be taken this early in their life, especially a father who only wanted to love and be loved by others. And now by the foolish acts of a selfish gunman, my family and his girlfriend Tara's family will never get to see them again here on earth. I love him, and know he'll watch over all of us every step we take. I can't wait to see him one day in heaven, it will be glorious."

Tara Clossman lived with her parents in Akron. Her father, Robert Clossman, said she and Lovette had been a couple for only a few weeks. The Kent State University graduate was living her dream of teaching dance and school, he said.

"That was her life's ambition," Clossman said.

She was an award-winning dancer and educator. She received a PTA Outstanding Educator Award. This school year would have been her second teaching at Akron Public Schools, according to Clossman.

"Tara was just such a joy," her father said.

Harting wrote on the Massillon Police Department's Facebook page: "Our prayers and condolences go out to the family, friends, neighbors, and everyone affected by this terrible crime. Domestic violence can be a very scary thing and much too often can have a tragic ending. If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please don't hesitate to get help. You can call 330-453-7233, 24 hours a day."

Reach Christina at 330-775-1133 or christina.mccune@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @cmccuneINDE.