The Brazilian national shot dead by British police at Stockwell Tube station last week was shot eight times.
Detective Inspector Elizabeth Baker revealed the details at an inquest hearing in London today.
Mr Charles de Menezes was killed after being pursued by plain clothes police officers as he tried to board a train at the station. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair had initially said the shooting was "directly linked" to anti-terror operations.
However, detectives later established he was not connected to attempts to blow up three Underground trains and a bus in the capital the day before.
He had emerged from a nearby house that was under surveillance because of a suspected link to Thursday's failed bomb attacks.
His clothing and behaviour was said to have added to the officers' suspicions.
Mr Menezes was on his way to a job when he was shot.
He left his flat in Scotia Road and took the number 2 bus to Stockwell Tube station where he was challenged by officers, who told him to stop. Witnesses reported he jumped over the ticket barriers and bolted down an escalator, looking like a "petrified rabbit", pursued by the police.
It appears he tried to board a train before being repeatedly shot. It is not known why Mr de Menezes did not stop when he was challenged by officers at Stockwell Tube station.
It was claimed today he had been in Britain on an out-of-date visa. Reports said the electrician had come to the UK on a student visa, which allows people to work for a small number of hours.
Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights organisation Liberty, criticised the claims.
"Liberty has taken pains to reserve judgment on the tragic Stockwell shooting pending the outcome of an independent investigation," she said.
"However, we are disgusted at suggestions that a man's immigration status has any relevance at all to the value of his life."
The Home Office has so far refused to comment on the matter.
Mr de Menezes's family may sue over his death and have insisted the police "will have to pay" for the mistake.
His cousin Alex Pereira, asked if they would take legal action, replied:
"They have to pay for that in many ways, because if they do not, they are going to kill many people, they are going to kill thousands of people."
The 28-year-old told BBC Breakfast: "They killed my cousin, they could kill anyone."