wˈɜːd ʌvðɪ ˌɔltɚkˈeɪʃən spɹˈɛd ænd sˈʌmhaʊ ˈɛskɐlˌeɪɾᵻd ˌɪntʊ ɹˈuːmɚz ðɪ ɛmplˈɔɪiː hæd kˈɪld ðə kˈʌstəmɚ.
Word of the altercation spread and somehow escalated into rumours the employee had killed the customer.